The International Hospital Federation (IHF) is celebrating its 90^th anniversary on 13 to 15 June 2019. To this occasion, we recall in a short article the networking opportunities the Federation has been providing to hospitals and healthcare organizations from all over the world since its establishment in 1929. In his testimonial for the 90^th anniversary of IHF, Dr. Francisco Balestrin recalled the goal of the IHF to be at the cutting edge of innovation in healthcare and to support hospitals to improve the delivery of care. IHF also introduced its newly launched activity, the Young Executive Leaders which offers a collaborative platform for young talented leaders in healthcare. To celebrate its anniversary, the Federation posted on its website testimonials from IHF past Presidents and IHF members' leaders, as well as a video on its vision for the then coming years.

Click on the link below to view the full summary.

Due to overwhelming demand, entry submissions for the 2019 International Hospital Federation (IHF) Awards has just been extended to 3rd June. Hospitals and health service providers can still nominate their outstanding and innovative projects and programs.​​​​​​​

The IHF Awards Committee announced that the extension of the deadline of entries is to give more organizations an opportunity to nominate exemplary programs that deserve international recognition.

"The Association's Deeble Institute has released a Health Policy Research Evidence Brief which aims to assess the value of accreditation to health service organizations. The brief calls for a better understanding of the benefits of accreditation to health services. While it focuses on the way accreditation is implemented in Australian health services, the topic is very relevant for a large number of countries' health systems around the world that have embedded accreditation processes.

Click on "Read more" to view the brief. The AHHA media release is available here.

During the National Hospital Week 2019, held on May 12-18 across the USA, AHA stressed the importance of health service facilities and health systems within their communities. They recognized all health services staff involved in the delivery of care for their dedication, and invited the healthcare community to join their #MyHospital campaign on social media.

​​​​​​​IHF is committed to support health care organizations and hospital associations to deliver better services at all level. We therefore encourage the community of IHF to share a write-up on the AHA's celebration within their network.  

The mission of the Portuguese Association of Hospital Development (APDH) is to have active participation in all activities that may promote hospitals and contribute to their development.

To fulfill its mission, APDH participates actively in all the reflections, working groups and actions that are inserted in this context, independently from political or commercial interests. Besides, it establishes cooperation protocols with public and private institutions deemed necessary and convenient, aiming to promote and organize the activities that will meet the interest of its members, whether individual or collective.

The Portuguese Health Care System is composed by three co-existing systems: the universal tax-financed National Health Service (NHS), special health insurance schemes for particular professions or sectors (the health subsystems) and private voluntary health insurance.

Planning and regulation take place largely at the central level by the Ministry of Health and its institutions, whereas the management of the NHS takes place at the regional level, by the regional health administrations (Administrações Regionais de Saúde). These are also responsible for contracting services with hospitals and private sector providers for NHS patients (Simões, J. et. Al., 2017).

The Portuguese Association for Hospital Development (APDH) is a non-profit organization created with the aim of promoting cooperation amongst Portuguese hospitals and between Portuguese hospitals and their foreign counterparts, and to promote and develop innovative procedures within the hospital management areas.

It is governed by the Board of Directors, of which I have been a president for three years after being its member since the beginning. At the same time, I work as a General and Vascular Surgeon. In the past, I was a professor of Surgery at the Lisbon Medical School, a hospital director, a president of the “Sociedade Médica dos Hospitais Civis de Lisboa” and more.