A group of students from the 64th Specialisation Course in Public Health (CESP) at the National School of Public Health, NOVA University of Lisbon, carried out a study visit to the Ramón y Cajal University Hospital in Madrid. The visit was accompanied by the course co-coordinator and professor at NOVA NSPH, Paulo Sousa.
The Ramón y Cajal Hospital is a reference centre in the field of Preventive Medicine and Hospital Public Health in Spain. This visit offered students a practical and in-depth insight into the workings of the Spanish healthcare system, as well as the strategies adopted in patient safety and public health within a hospital setting.
The delegation was welcomed by the hospital’s Deputy Director, Fernando Roldan Molle, and the Director of the Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Jesus Aranaz. During the visit, which took place on 7 July, the students had the opportunity to meet and exchange experiences with healthcare professionals – including medical specialists and residents – and to gain an understanding of the various dimensions of the hospital public health team’s work. In addition to learning about the department and discussing its areas of expertise, the students also visited the Central Sterilisation Unit.
NOVA NSPH maintains a close collaboration with the Ramón y Cajal Hospital, which has resulted in a continuous exchange of experiences and good practices. In addition to the annual visits within the scope of CESP, and the mobility programme – in the form of PhD placements for residents and specialists in Preventive Medicine and Public Health from the Ramón y Cajal Hospital at NOVA NSPH – this partnership has also included research placements for Portuguese public health residents, who have integrated into teams at the Spanish hospital.
This visit further strengthened the cooperation and was highly valued by participants, not only for the technical knowledge gained, but also for the opportunity to reflect on the role of public health in the hospital context, particularly in the current model of Local Health Units.
