World Health Organisation to open centre of excellence in Porto

The World Health Organization (WHO) is to set up a centre of excellence for new technologies and entrepreneurship in health in Porto, Portugal’s minister of health announced it, stressing what he said was the "enormous importance” of this decision for the country. Speaking to Lusa, Manuel Pizarro said Portugal has signed an agreement with WHO’s European regional department to set up this centre next to the premises of the executive board of Portugal’s National Health Service (SNS).

It will be the first WHO world office dedicated to Technology, Robotics and Entrepreneurship in Health, and it promises to put the country "at the forefront of technological innovation in health services,” given that "it is absolutely recognised how these technological changes have such an impact on improving health outcomes”, Mr Pizarro added.