On 25 February 2026, the 3rd Policy Dialogue of the HEROES Joint Action (HEalth woRkfOrcE to meet health challEngeS) took place at the premises of the Administração Central do Sistema de Saúde, IP (ACSS), marking an important step in strengthening the sustainability and institutionalisation of Health Workforce Planning (HWP) in Portugal.
Funded by the European programme EU4H-PJG, the HEROES initiative is led by the GHTM R&D Unit of Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa (IHMT NOVA), in close collaboration with the Administração Central do Sistema de Saúde (ACSS).
The meeting brought together key national stakeholders, including representatives from ACSS, GHTM | IHMT/NOVA – Isabel Craveiro and the PhD students Réka Cane and Danielle Cosac, all from PPS-GHTM Research Group – , the Direção-Geral da Saúde (DGS), the Direção-Geral do Ensino Superior, the Ordem dos Médicos (Portuguese Medical Association), the Ordem dos Enfermeiros (Portuguese Nursing Association), and the Centre for Planning and Evaluation of Public Policies (PLANAPP).
The session aimed to further advance the discussion on the institutional model for Health Workforce Planning and to identify mechanisms to ensure its long-term sustainability. Particular emphasis was placed on consolidating the outcomes of the Joint Action into a permanent and operational structure.
During the meeting, the National Sustainability Plan for Health Workforce Planning was presented. The plan is aligned with the World Health Organization’s Framework for Sustainable Health Workforce Intelligence and is structured around four key domains: political support and contextual factors; health workforce governance; planning capacity; and data and planning models.
Key measures highlighted included the establishment of formal governance structures, the creation of dedicated technical teams, the implementation of continuous capacity-building programmes, and the strengthening of information systems and foresight models. A roadmap for the period 2026–2027 was also outlined.
The discussion revealed broad consensus on the need to institutionalize Health Workforce Planning as a permanent, evidence-based public function. This approach is expected to be supported by a multi-level governance framework and sustained, active engagement from all relevant stakeholders.
This Policy Dialogue reinforces the commitment of national partners to ensuring a more strategic, coordinated, and sustainable approach to health workforce planning in Portugal, in line with current and future health system needs.
