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
This program values not only the quality of the theoretical content but also the close contact it fosters with key players in the healthcare sector, both nationally and internationally. The opportunity to work alongside students and external mentors on the development of a healthcare project enhances teamwork and commitment skills, which are essential in project management. Finally, the support and availability shown by the teaching staff is an extremely positive aspect of this postgraduate course.
Miguel Pereira
Clinical Research Coordinator at CUF
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
The National School of Public Health at NOVA University of Lisbon (NOVA NSPH) is moving forward with the SAPIEN – South and Atlantic Pedagogical Innovation & Excellence Network project, an initiative funded by the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), as part of the Impulso Mais Digital – Pedagogical Innovation and Modernisation in Higher Education, specifically the component for creating Centres of Excellence in Pedagogical Innovation.
This measure aims to encourage innovative teaching practices with a strong digital element, with a particular focus on traditionally less technological areas such as the social sciences, humanities and arts. In the case of NOVA NSPH, the project is particularly important in the field of Public Health, at a time when the sector is facing growing challenges such as new health threats, the impact of global crises and the need to strengthen the resilience of health systems.
The component coordinated by NOVA NSPH is centred on creating advanced pedagogical conditions for training in Public Health, with special emphasis on active learning, the use of digital methodologies and the simulation of real scenarios, bringing teaching closer to the concrete challenges faced by health professionals.
The SAPIEN project contributes directly to the development of essential skills in the areas of organisational health management, large-scale data analysis and decision support in critical contexts. This approach will enable a real structural transformation of Public Health and Health Management teaching, promoting innovative, interactive learning environments geared towards solving real problems.
The investment made under SAPIEN will enable NOVA NSPH to create additional conditions for the development of simulation methodologies applied to Public Health management, with a focus on the simulation of strategic scenarios, resource optimisation and data-based training. This approach also contributes to the development of innovative teaching models, with practical application in real-world contexts.
SAPIEN reflects ENSP NOVA’s commitment to transforming public health teaching by combining innovation, technology and pedagogical excellence, in line with national and European priorities in the field of digital transition and strengthening citizens’ qualifications. This project is part of ENSP NOVA’s wider strategy to prepare professionals capable of responding critically and in an informed manner to global health challenges.
The National School of Public Health at NOVA University of Lisbon (NOVA NSPH) is going ahead with a major energy renovation project on its campus, with a total investment of 1,278,006 euros, funded by the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), through Measure 13 – Energy Efficiency in Public Administration Buildings.
The project, which will run until 2025, is a concrete commitment to the efficiency, sustainability and comfort of NOVA NSPH’s facilities, contributing to the national goals of energy transition and carbon neutrality.
NOVA NSPH has been working actively to ensure that the process progresses quickly. The architectural and speciality projects have already been completed, and the contracting process is in its final stages, which will allow the intervention on the ground to begin.
The work includes three main axes:
Improving the building’s opaque and glazed envelope to improve thermal performance;
Upgrading the technical systems, such as air conditioning (HVAC) and ventilation;
Installation of renewable energy production solutions (RES) for self-consumption.
Among the planned interventions are the installation of photovoltaic solar panels, the application of thermal insulation, the modernisation of HVAC systems and the renovation of lighting with more efficient bulbs.
This investment reinforces an integrated vision of sustainability at NOVA NSPH, which extends beyond teaching, research and knowledge transfer. The School also applies the principles of energy efficiency, climate action and ecological transition in the way it manages and modernises its infrastructures, aligning institutional practice with the global challenges it studies and faces.
This project is funded by the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR) under investment RE-C05-i03 – Energy Efficiency in Public Administration Buildings.
An innovative study, conducted by the National School of Public Health at NOVA University of Lisbon (NOVA NSPH), aims to assess the needs and quality of life of people with paramyloidosis, a disease with a high incidence in Portugal. Entitled ‘Needs and QuaLity of Life AssessmeNT of PEople with Amyloidosis: a Real-World Study iN Portugal – LANTERN’, the study, in partnership with the Portuguese Paramyloidosis Association, the Portuguese Society for the Study of Neuromuscular Diseases and AstraZeneca, will be open for participation throughout the country until 30 September this year.
Paramyloidosis is a rare and debilitating disease characterised by the extracellular deposition of amyloid proteins in various tissues and organs, resulting in progressive organ dysfunction.
Portugal has the highest prevalence of the disease with around 20 per cent of all patients worldwide.
The quality of life of people with paramyloidosis is substantially compromised due to the progression of clinical symptoms, which include peripheral neuropathy, cardiomyopathy, gastrointestinal dysfunction and impaired ambulatory capacity. These symptoms not only affect patients’ physical health, but also have a profound impact on mental health and social well-being, resulting in a significant loss of autonomy and the need for ongoing care, which imposes a considerable burden on both patients and their carers.
The LANTERN Study aims to identify the main needs of people with paramyloidosis and the determinants that influence their quality of life. The results of this study could be important for public health in Portugal, as they will provide current and relevant data for the development of more effective and personalised intervention strategies, as well as recommendations for health policies and clinical practices that can mitigate the negative impacts of the disease.
In Portugal, hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTRv), also known as familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy (FAP), paramyloidosis or ‘little feet disease’ has a significant prevalence, with a high incidence of cases compared to other European countries.
About the LANTERN Study
The LANTERN Study, which began in June 2025, is being conducted by the National School of Public Health at NOVA University of Lisbon, in partnership with the Portuguese Paramyloidosis Association, the Portuguese Society for the Study of Neuromuscular Diseases and AstraZeneca, to identify the needs and determinants that influence the quality of life of people living with paramyloidosis in Portugal. The study’s conditions of participation are available on the NOVA NSPH website.
