The Health Ombudsman was created with the purpose of serving citizens. The Regional Government has decided to create an impartial entity to provide citizens with the possibility of submitting suggestions and making complaints that will be subject to an unbiased assessment. The Health Ombudsman should provide answers and guidance in order to inform citizens about their rights and duties. This entity is intended to establish a link between Patients and health care providers.

The Health Ombudsman was established by the Resolution of the Council of the Government n.º 32/2010 of March 4. In this context, the Regional Government defends that health policies are required to provide patients, in the context of the Regional Health Service, with other suitable means to ensure the exercise of the right of participating, making complaints and defending their rights.

Hence, citizens have the right, regardless of any direct, personal and legitimate claim, to make complaints to the Health Ombudsman free of charges and without the need for a lawyer. The Ombudsman should assess the complaints seriously and impartially in order to search for the solutions that best serve the interests of patients.