The motivation to participate in the Postgraduate Course in Health Economics and Health Outcomes stemmed from the desire to gain a deeper understanding of how the Portuguese healthcare ecosystem functions, particularly in relation to the approval of medicines.
The hybrid format of the classes fits well with an active professional life as a Market Access manager in a pharmaceutical company. The diverse experiences of both the instructors and participants make the sessions collaborative and dynamic.
Marta Rodrigues
Public Affairs Lead – Ipsen Portugal
At NOVA NSPH I found much more than just a place of learning, I found an environment where I was able to grow on many levels. From my Master’s to my PhD, I took part in national and international projects that resulted in publications and conference presentations. I also took on responsibilities as President of the Students’ Association and as a member of the Pedagogical Council, contributing with initiatives that made a real impact on our community. The close relationship with lecturers, researchers and fellow students made this experience unique, created a lasting bond with NOVA NSPH, and strengthened my confidence in the path I chose to follow.
Francisco Madeira
PhD Student
The Postgraduate in Health Economics and Health Outcomes was essential to complement my training in Pharmaceutical Sciences. The classes, materials, and practical examples provided a comprehensive view of Health Economics, which motivated me to pursue a PhD in Public Health at NOVA NSPH. In addition to the knowledge gained, the sharing of experiences among colleagues was enriching. The course boosted my career, allowing me to better understand the healthcare system and evolve as a hospital pharmacist and now as a research fellow.
Ana Rita Santos
Health Economics Researcher – Value for Health CoLAB
My journey at NSPH began 4 years ago when I joined the Master's programme in Public Health, and has been consolidated until I started my PhD. Along the way, I've had the opportunity to take part in national and international research projects that have made a decisive contribution to my academic and professional growth, allowing me to build a solid and diverse network. I actively participated in the school's associative life, which was an enriching experience, not only because of the teamwork and community spirit, but also because I was able to represent and contribute to the continuous improvement of the student pathway at NSPH. NSPH is not only a place for learning, but also a place for belonging, growth and transformation. And it is with great pride that I am part of this community.
From 28 February, the project “Eating Well Helps You Grow” enters a new phase with the launch of its second cycle of activities, reinforcing its commitment to promoting healthier food choices within the community. After engaging around 600 participants in the first phase, the initiative is now expanding its reach, with the ambition of involving an even greater number of children and families.
The initiative forms part of Novo Nordisk’s global programme “Cities for Better Health”, which brings together more than 50 cities worldwide, and has a clear purpose: to promote food literacy and empower children and families to make healthier food choices in their daily lives, demonstrating that a healthy meal is not necessarily more difficult to prepare, nor more expensive. At the same time, it aims to mitigate identified barriers related to the attractiveness of and access to fresh and healthy foods, through a practical approach focused on the needs of the community in which it is being implemented.
The project is based on an integrated intervention strategy, developed along two complementary strands: schools and families. In the school setting, it takes the form of a special edition of the programme “Heróis da Fruta”, exclusive to schools in the parish of Ajuda, promoted by the Portuguese Association Against Childhood Obesity, which uses playful and educational methodologies to encourage the daily consumption of fruit and vegetables among children aged between 3 and 11 years. The impact of the intervention is assessed by researchers from the Institute of Environmental Health (ISAMB) of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Lisbon (FMUL).
Within the family context, every weekend until next June, Mercado da Ajuda will host cycles of four workshops and two guided visits to the Pingo Doce supermarket in Boa-Hora, where nutritionists and students from the NOVA Medical School support families in interpreting food labels, selecting seasonal products and adopting informed dietary practices. The intervention is evaluated by NOVA NSPH – National School of Public Health.
The aim is to engage families with children aged 6 to 12 and to empower the entire household, demonstrating that simple, affordable and nutritionally relevant foods can be easily incorporated into everyday meals through balanced and flavourful preparations.
The project “Eating Well Helps You Grow” results from a partnership between Novo Nordisk Portugal, NOVA Medical School, APCOI – Portuguese Association Against Childhood Obesity, and NOVA NSPH – National School of Public Health, which, together with the Ajuda Parish Council, are joining efforts to ensure scientific rigour, community relevance and the effectiveness of the intervention model.
International and interdisciplinary programme reinforces NOVA University Lisbon’s commitment to innovation and global cooperation. The new programme, led by NOVA NSPH in association with Nova Medical School, IHMT NOVA and Aga Khan University, will begin in September 2026.
Lisbon, 19 February 2026 – NOVA University Lisbon is launching, for the first time in Portugal, an international Undergraduate Degree in Global Public Health, a pioneering programme designed to prepare a new generation of professionals capable of responding, in an innovative and collaborative manner, to public health challenges in a rapidly changing world.
Scheduled to begin in September 2026, this Undergraduate Degree in Global Public Health represents another milestone in NOVA’s and NOVA NSPH’s innovation strategy, reinforcing our commitment to an educational offer aligned with the major themes shaping the future: health, sustainability, digitalisation and global cooperation.
The programme is led by the National School of Public Health (NOVA NSPH), in association with Nova Medical School (NMS), the Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (IHMT NOVA) and Aga Khan University (AKU), and also involves other European and global academic and strategic partners.
“This undergraduate degree was created with the ambition of training a new generation of professionals capable of thinking and acting globally, grounded in scientific knowledge, innovation and social transformation. It is a decisive step in strengthening the role of Portugal and NOVA on the international public health map and in preparing responses that contribute to healthier, more equitable and resilient societies, as well as to the sustainability of health systems,” highlights Sónia Dias, Director of NOVA NSPH.
Academic Innovation and International Outlook
With a duration of six semesters (180 ECTS), the programme is accredited by A3ES and by the Association of Schools of Public Health in the European Region (APHEA), ensuring international standards of quality and academic excellence.
The curriculum combines theoretical and practical training, including internships, projects, case studies and seminars that bring students closer to real-world public health challenges. The degree also promotes academic mobility, international cooperation networks and internship opportunities with leading partner institutions.
Course content covers health policies and systems, digital health and artificial intelligence, sustainability, communication, governance and epidemiology, fostering applied learning focused on solving complex global problems.
Careers and Professional Impact
The Undergraduate Degree in Global Public Health is aimed at those seeking to build a career with national and international impact, in public and private sectors, companies and start-ups, foundations and civil society organisations, universities and research centres, as well as international organisations and multilateral cooperation and development agencies.
The programme trains professionals capable of developing innovative, evidence-based solutions that promote health, equity and sustainability in both global and local contexts.
Graduates will be prepared to work in areas such as:
Prevention and management of public health crises;
The NOVA National School of Public Health (NOVA NSPH) participated in the 2nd Transnational Meeting of the HERA project – Helping Empower Women through Reskilling and Advancement, held in Naples. The meeting brought together partners from various European countries to strengthen coordination and the implementation of ongoing activities.
Coordinated by NOVA NSPH, the HERA project aims to empower women over 45 through professional reskilling, promoting equal opportunities in the labour market and contributing to the reduction of social and gender inequalities. In a context marked by rapid digital transformations and sustainable transition, the project addresses social determinants of health that influence access to employment, education, and social participation.
During the meeting, held on 17-18 December, partners shared experiences and best practices related to the implementation of HERA Labs in different countries, as well as strategies for stakeholder engagement and the development of solutions adapted to local realities. This collaborative work allowed the alignment of approaches, anticipation of common challenges, and reinforcement of the consortium’s cooperative dimension.
For Sónia Dias, Dean of NOVA NSPH and coordinator of the HERA consortium, “the meeting in Naples was a pivotal moment for the HERA project, bringing together the partners responsible for implementing HERA Labs across several countries. Sharing experiences enabled the identification of effective approaches and the anticipation of common challenges, strengthening close and motivating collaboration, resulting in more inclusive and sustainable solutions that meet the real needs of the women we aim to support”.
In addition to the Dean of NOVA NSPH, researcher Maria João Marques also attended the meeting, which was joined via videoconference by Carolina Santos and Sofia Madeira, a lecturer and researcher at NOVA NSPH, respectively.
The HERA project involves a consortium of 10 partners from 8 countries, with the support of the European Commission. Beyond its direct impact on women’s reskilling and employability, the project aims to contribute to the development of more inclusive public policies, based on evidence and best practices, ensuring a lasting impact at European level.
