A Portuguese delegation involved in healthcare management began a new international study visit in Seoul on Monday, 19 October, promoted as part of the Specialisation Course in Hospital Administration (CEAH) at NOVA National School of Public Health.

Organised by NOVA NSPH and the Portuguese Association for Hospital Development (APDH), in partnership with the Portuguese Association of Hospital Managers (APAH), the NOVA NSPH Students’ Association and the School’s Alumni Association, the initiative brings together 22 participants, including Hospital Administration students, hospital managers and other healthcare management professionals.

Over the course of a six-day programme in Seoul, the delegation will have the opportunity to explore different aspects of the South Korean health system and engage directly with some of its leading institutions. The programme focuses on areas such as health system governance and financing, performance and evaluation, digital health and technological innovation.

The visit also includes participation in the 49th World Hospital Congress, organised by the International Hospital Federation (IHF), as well as visits to Severance Hospital, Samsung Medical Center and Myongji Hospital. These activities provide opportunities to combine academic learning with exposure to hospital management and innovation practices, while fostering international networking.

The initiative aims to provide a learning experience directly connected to the challenges of healthcare management and create opportunities to compare different models, practices and organisational approaches, with potential for reflection and application within the Portuguese health system.

First day dedicated to the South Korean health system and Severance Hospital

The programme began at Yonsei University’s Graduate School of Public Health with a session on the evolution of South Korea’s health system, led by Professor Tae Hyun Kim of the Graduate School of Transdisciplinary Health Sciences.

The session provided an overview of a system that has achieved universal coverage and is characterised by high accessibility, extensive adoption of medical technology and continued investment in infrastructure and the organisation of care. The visit was specifically designed to enable Portuguese participants to understand not only the evolution of the Korean health system, but also the operations and management models of its hospital sector.

In the afternoon, the delegation visited the Yonsei University Health System and Severance Hospital, one of the country’s leading hospital institutions. The guided tour provided an opportunity to observe different aspects of hospital operations, including advanced clinical infrastructure, patient-centred care models, digital health initiatives, and organisational management and quality improvement strategies. The programme concluded with a discussion and question-and-answer session involving the participants and the institution’s representatives.

The first day continues with the delegation’s participation in the 49th World Hospital Congress, including the welcome reception, a visit to the i-to-i Innovation Hub and the opening of the exhibition.

Over the coming days, participation in the Congress will provide an opportunity to follow international discussions on the management, innovation and transformation of health systems and organisations. The programme also includes a visit to Samsung Medical Center on 22 October and to Myongji Hospital on 23 October, where the delegation will gain further insight into hospital operations and organisational and management models in South Korea.

The study visit strengthens the international dimension of the CEAH, creating opportunities for students and professionals to engage with different health system management and organisational models, exchange experiences with international experts and bring new perspectives on the current and future challenges of hospital administration to the Portuguese context.

The Board of NOVA National School of Public Health, on behalf of the entire academic community, expresses its profound sorrow at the passing of Professor José Manuel Sales Caldeira da Silva, former Director of the School and a leading figure in Public Health and health administration in Portugal.

With a career spanning several decades at NOVA NSPH, first as a student and subsequently as a lecturer, researcher and leader, Professor José Caldeira da Silva left a lasting mark on the institution’s history. He served as Director of NOVA National School of Public Health from 1990 to 1997, a period during which one of the most defining moments in the School’s history took place: its integration into NOVA University Lisbon.

Throughout his academic career, he held various teaching and research responsibilities, making a significant contribution to the development and recognition of NOVA NSPH. His pioneering role in introducing Health Promotion into the curriculum stands out, as does the launch of the first Master’s degree in Public Health during his tenure as Director.

Alongside his academic work, he pursued an extensive career dedicated to health organisation and administration, holding prominent positions at national and international level, notably at the Ministry of Health, as President of the International Hospital Federation, and as a member of the Executive Board of the World Health Organization.

His career was recognised through several distinctions, including the Gold Grade Medal for Distinguished Services awarded by the Ministry of Health in 2007.

NOVA NSPH remembers Professor José Caldeira da Silva with profound gratitude for his dedication to the School and his decisive contribution to its establishment within the university. His legacy, defined by his commitment to teaching, research and the development of Public Health, remains an integral part of our School’s history and identity.

NOVA NSPH extends its heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, former students and colleagues.

Funeral Arrangements

The wake will take place on Tuesday, 20 October, from 5 pm, at the Basílica da Estrela in Lisbon.

The funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, 21 October, at 2 pm, at the same location, followed by departure for Olivais Cemetery at 3 pm.

The Board of NOVA NSPH

Sónia Dias, Director of NOVA National School of Public Health (NOVA NSPH), will coordinate EuroHealthNet’s European thematic group dedicated to Social, Arts and Green Prescribing, strengthening the international recognition of the work carried out in this area.

The group brings together public health institutions from different European countries, including Austria, Italy and Catalonia, and aims to bring research, public policy and practice closer together, promoting Social Prescribing as a tool for improving health, well-being and equity. Its priorities include sharing knowledge and experiences between countries at different stages of implementation, and driving the expansion, consolidation and sustainability of Social Prescribing across Europe.

“This appointment represents important recognition of the work carried out by NOVA NSPH’s Social Prescribing Knowledge Centre and an opportunity to contribute to an increasingly relevant European agenda. We want to bring evidence, policies and implementation closer together, promoting quality models adapted to different contexts and capable of addressing inequalities and the social determinants of health, thereby contributing to better health and well-being for all,” says Sónia Dias.

NOVA NSPH has been involved in the development of Social Prescribing in Portugal since 2018, having contributed to the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the first initiatives in Primary Health Care, particularly at USF da Baixa, and supported its expansion to different territories and settings. It currently coordinates the Social Prescribing Knowledge Centre Portugal and the Social Prescribing Network Portugal, which brings together organisations from the health and social sectors, academia, local authorities and civil society, promoting the generation of evidence, professional capacity-building, and the development and evaluation of integrated, people-centred responses.

The group’s creation comes amid growing European investment in this area, particularly through the Social Prescribing-EU project, funded by Horizon Europe (2025–2029), in which EuroHealthNet and NOVA NSPH are partners. The project seeks to assess the potential of these approaches to improve access to health and care for more vulnerable populations and their adaptability to different European contexts.