The NOVA Nacional School of Public Health (NOVA NSPH) promoted, on April 9, 2024, at the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, the launch of the Social Prescribing Portugal Network and made available the first Social Prescription manual in the national context.
The public event, under the high patronage of His Excellency the President of the Republic, gathered around 300 participants – leaders, professionals, and civil society – with the aim of driving the expansion of Social Prescription in the country, for further gains in health, sustainability of the healthcare system, and healthier and more inclusive communities.
The launch included a Program composed of experts and relevant personalities in key areas of interest for social prescription, such as health, social affairs, culture, integrated care, sustainability, among others.
Pioneering in this field in Portugal, NOVA NSPH has been supporting organizations and municipalities since 2018 in designing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating Social Prescription initiatives, now rapidly expanding across the country.
The Social Prescribing Portugal Network integrates researchers, multidisciplinary professionals, citizens, managers, and policymakers, aiming to strengthen social prescription intervention, build broad institutional partnerships, and implement pilot projects and best practices.
The event is institutionally supported by the Executive Board of the National Health Service, Portugal Inovação Social, the Instituto da Segurança Social, the Directorate-General of Health, the Commission for Regional Development and Coordination of Lisbon and Tagus Valley (CCDR LVT), the Plataforma Saúde em Diálogo, and the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, with sponsorship from the British Embassy in Lisbon.
Learn more about the project and request access to the 1st Manual of the Social Prescription Portugal Network.