General IST policy: Portugal

The 'Green Book for the Information Society', approved by the Ministers Council of April 17th 1997, is intended to provide a catalytic contribution to future actions in the Information Society and is considered a first step in the elaboration of an action plan to guide Portugal in using ICTs to its advantage. It also postulates the integration of disadvantageous groups of the population in the Information Society, according to the general principle of equality, independently of the social and economical conditions to end users.

The Access Initiative is an initiative from the Department of Science and Technology Ministry with the responsibility to co-ordinate and follow up Government policies related to the Information Society and their impact on citizens' with special needs, including older people.

A Resolution (no. 97/99) passed by the Ministers Council sets out to ensure that the information on all Public Administration websites should be understood and accessible to all citizens, including older people and people with special needs.

The 'Internet Initiative' of the Ministers Council' promotes the general utilisation of the Internet in Portugal.

Through the Network of disabled and elderly people, the Science and Technology Ministry is offering such organisations the necessary equipment for Internet connection free, the free installation of same, 24 hours free access, 64 kbps bandwith, and 40 Mbytes of disk storage.

The Programme of Integrated Support to the Elderly established in 1997 (Programa de Apoio Integrado a Idosos -PAII) (Dispatch Collection no. 259/97 of 21st of August) has the following objectives:

• To ensure the provision of care, including care of an urgent and permanent nature, with the precise aim to maintain the autonomy of the elderly in his own home and in his familiar environment;
• To establish the means to ensure the mobility of the elderly and accessibility to appropriate benefits and services;
• To implement support to families who have to provide care and attendance to dependent family members, namely the elderly;
• To promote and support initiatives for the initial and continuing training of professionals, volunteers, family members and other people in the community;
• To promote attitudes and measures to prevent isolation, exclusion and dependency and to contribute to intergenerational solidarity as well as creating jobs.

Although not explicitly stated in the Programme, it is envisaged that the objectives mentioned above should be achieved using ICT based solutions. The Institutions involved, especially the non-profit private Institutions, are becoming increasingly aware of the potential of ICT solutions. Therefore, it is foreseen in the near future that some of the interventions will use ICT solutions.

The older Portuguese population have the highest levels of illiteracy and one of the lowest incomes in all Europe, and most of the social workers providing healthcare services to these older people are not very well prepared, particularly in relation to the use of ICT. In this respect, it is understandable, that Portugal does not know lobby groups for older people. Marginally, the influence of the Senior Card Foundation and the Justice Attorney Office can be considered.

The health and social care sectors in Portugal need a strong reorganisation effort, which will have high costs, but that is absolutely necessary to dignify healthcare services in Portugal and a unique opportunity to introduce ICT.

It is possible to find references to the use of ICTs in the care of people with special needs, however it appears that the potential use of ICTs in the care of elderly people has been largely ignored to date. Home care support for the elderly is under discussion, however the use of ICTs to provide possible solutions in this area is not foreseen.