Public health in the Constituent Assembly (1821–22): continuity and change

Abstract

Signed on 23rd September 1822, the Constitution of the Portuguese Nation stated that the Cortes (Constituent Assembly) and the government would be responsible for the “preservation, establishment and increase” of welfare institutions, with the exception of those controlled by the local councils, which would be responsible for the area of public health. The wording of the Constitution indicated the failure of the Public Health Commission, which had been unable to obtain approval for its reformist ideas, in particular municipal control of welfare and health. This was the outcome of more than a year and a half of debates and numerous petitions discussed in Parliament or simply analyzed by the commission. The aim of this study is to examine this field and question the ideas presented by the liberals as revolutionary in the public health sphere in light of the experiences of previous decades.