FORMATION IN MANAGEMENT FOR SUPPORTING HEALTH REFORMS IN PORTUGAL AND PORTUGUESE-SPEAKING COUNTRIES

Abstract We present lessons that have resulted from formation activities of managers conducted in Portugal in the context of primary health care reform and in the Portuguese-speaking African countries, regarding planning and management of hospital services. and public health. We describe three action-formation programs conducted by the International Public Health Unit of the Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine-Lisbon, with the support of Portuguese and international partners such as the World Health Organization, and the Institute of Social Medicine of Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro. The programs were developed on the basis of identifying participants’ skills needs and focused on solving concrete problems in order to help managers address the difficulties inherent in reform processes. Despite their intrinsic value, they are not sufficient by themselves, as other mechanisms such as the continued monitoring of managers, incentive systems consistent with the objectives of reforms, tools and resources (funding, information systems, qualified staff) are always needed and sufficient to implement the changes. In addition, the sustainability of capacity-building interventions needs continued support from policy makers.