OBJECTIVES:  To elicit citizens’ views and preferences on health policy formulation and priority setting in health, with specific questions on: which patients and population group should have priority, which should have free access, what programs should have priority in funding and which principles and values influence their decision in priority setting in health. METHODS: Cross-sectional study, using a structured questionnaire of 22 items with a sample of 450 citizens, stratified by gender, age, and area. RESULTS: The ranking of seven social groups made by participants, based on the usefulness of their involvement in resource allocation, gave the first position to health professionals, and the last to politicians. Regarding different ways of participation, the public favoured the joint committees with health professionals, while they rejected the choice of a randomly selected sample of citizens. Preventive services such as screening tests and vaccinations should be provided free of charge, while children, unemployed and low income citizens should have free access to health services. Severity, type of disease and waiting time were the attributes selected for patient prioritization for treatment. Based on specific medical problems, patients with cancer in an early stage, patients in an emergency situation and patients with life threatening conditions, have taken the highest priority for free access and treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Although citizens expressed their willingness to participate in planning and priority setting, they seem reluctant to take over the responsibility for decisions. Citizens want to inform health policy makers on their views and preferences, expecting to be taken into account. Age, severity and kind of illness, treatment cost, expected results and quality of life after treatment, were the criteria taken into consideration for prioritization. Most of these criteria are based on the principles of need and efficiency.