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World Blood Donor Day: a drop of humanity can save lives

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Today, 14 June, marks World Blood Donor Day, which is celebrated annually under the auspices of the World Health Organisation.

In 2026, the date is marked under the motto "A drop of humanity. Give blood. Save lives.", a message that places solidarity, compassion and collective responsibility at the heart of blood donation.

Every year, this day pays tribute to the donors who help save lives and highlights the importance of ensuring that safe blood is available to those who need it. Blood is essential to the response of healthcare systems in a wide range of situations, including emergencies, childbirth, surgery, cancer treatment and other medical conditions that depend on safe and timely transfusions.

The Portuguese Association of Physiotherapists joins in marking this occasion, emphasising the importance of blood donation to the healthcare system’s response and recognising the value of all those who contribute to this chain of care and solidarity.

As healthcare professionals, physiotherapists can also play an important role in raising awareness, providing information and encouraging patients to understand the importance of giving blood, where appropriate, thereby helping to improve health literacy and foster a sense of collective responsibility regarding this ongoing need.

On this World Blood Donor Day, the Portuguese Association of Physiotherapists joins the call for more people to find out more, become blood donors and contribute to a vital response that ensures the safety and continuity of healthcare.

Find out how you can give blood or provide information to potential donors here.

Meeting with the Regional Secretariat for Health and Civil Protection of Madeira

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The President of the Portuguese Association of Physiotherapists met with the Regional Secretary for Health and Civil Protection in Madeira, Micaela Freitas, accompanied by the Chair of the Madeira Regional Board of the Portuguese Physiotherapists’ Association, Mara Teixeira, and by a member of the same Board, Joana Pita.
 
Among the topics discussed was the funding model for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, with the Portuguese Association of Physiotherapists reiterating its position on the need to strengthen the autonomy of physiotherapists in the practice of their profession.
 
The meeting also provided an opportunity to discuss the contribution of physiotherapists to the Regional Health System, with their role in functional recovery, rehabilitation, prevention and the promotion of the population’s quality of life being recognised.
 
The Portuguese Association of Physiotherapists will continue to work with the relevant authorities to find solutions that promote better healthcare and greater recognition of the profession.

Applications are now open for the 13th edition of the Healthcare Excellence Award

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The Portuguese Association of Physiotherapists is announcing the 13th edition of the Healthcare Excellence Award, an initiative organised by the Portuguese Association of Hospital Administrators (APAH) in partnership with the biopharmaceutical company AbbVie.

The aim of this award is to recognise and encourage projects that have contributed to improving safety, access, integration, efficiency and/or outcomes in healthcare.

Teams of healthcare professionals comprising hospital administrators and/or other healthcare professionals, including physiotherapists, whose projects were developed and implemented in 2025 and/or 2026, are eligible to apply.

Applications may be submitted by public, social and private organisations within the health system, based in mainland Portugal and the Autonomous Regions of the Azores and Madeira.

The Portuguese Association of Physiotherapists encourages its members to learn about and promote this initiative, which supports projects aimed at improving healthcare. The involvement of physiotherapists in multidisciplinary teams can make a significant contribution to projects focused on integrated care, the efficiency of responses, improved access and the achievement of health gains.

Applications are open until 30 June 2026 and must be submitted by email to secretariado@apah.pt. 

See the Regulation …and join in!

15th General Assembly of the European Region of World Physiotherapy: Portugal strengthens its representation on the Executive Committee

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The Portuguese Association of Physiotherapists took part in 15th General Assembly of the European Region of World Physiotherapy, which took place in Pristina, Kosovo, on 14 and 15 May. The Portuguese delegation was led by the President of the Bar, António Lopes, and by the physiotherapist Adérito Seixas, First Secretary of the Bureau of the General Council of the Portuguese Physiotherapists’ Association.

According to information released organised by the European Region, the meeting was attended by representatives from 32 member organisations and included, among the main items on the agenda, the approval of the Strategic Plan 2026–2030 and a review of the documents produced by the working groups during the 2024–2026 term. The meeting also included group discussions on topics relevant to the future of physiotherapy in Europe, including training, risks and opportunities for the profession.

During the General Meeting, elections were also held for the vacant positions on the Executive Committee of the European Region of World Physiotherapy. In this context, Adérito Seixas was elected to the post of member of the Executive Committee for the 2026–2030 term, thereby strengthening Portugal’s representation within this European body.

Portugal’s participation enabled the country to follow the proceedings of the General Assembly and strengthen the institutional presence of the Portuguese Physiotherapists’ Association within the European context, at a time when preparations are also underway for the 6th Europe Region Physiotherapy Congress.

The General Meeting concluded with a tribute to Esther-Mary D’Arcy, who has stepped down as President of the European Region of World Physiotherapy after eight years in the role, as well as a message of thanks from the organisation to Kosovo Chamber of Physiotherapists, the host organisation for the event.

World Children's Day: growing up healthy, protected and with access to care

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Today, 1 June, is World Children's Day, a date that underlines the importance of protecting children's rights and ensuring that they grow up with health, dignity, well-being and access to the care they need.

Physiotherapy in Paediatrics follows children's development from birth to the end of adolescence, promoting physical, functional and emotional well-being, especially in situations that require special care. Physiotherapists intervene in neuromotor, respiratory or musculoskeletal conditions, adapting clinical strategies to the age, specific needs of each child and their family, social and school context.

The physiotherapist's intervention is individualised and uses play as a strategy to involve the child in the activities.

On this World Children's Day, the Order of Physiotherapists emphasises the importance of ensuring that all children have access to adequate, timely and quality child health care. Talking about childhood also means talking about development, functionality, inclusion and fair access to care, essential conditions for every child to develop to their full potential.

To all the physiotherapists who work in this field with dedication, commitment and competence, and to all the children and families they support, the Order of Physiotherapists sends a message of celebration, recognition and commitment to a more protected childhood, with more support and more opportunities to grow up healthy.

Order of Physiotherapists defends the role of physiotherapy in prevention and sustainability of the health system at CNN Portugal Summit

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The Order of Physiotherapists took part in the 3rd edition of the CNN Portugal Summit “Innovation in Health”, held on 6 May at the Champalimaud Foundation, an initiative that brought together political leaders, health professionals, academics, managers and representatives from different sectors to debate the challenges of sustainability, efficiency and innovation in the health system in Portugal.

The President of the Portuguese Order of Physiotherapists, António Lopes, took part in the panel “Living longer and better: the economics of prevention”, moderated by journalist Rita Rodrigues, alongside Rita Sá Machado, Director-General of Health, João Silveira Botelho, Vice-President of the Champalimaud Foundation, and José Manuel Boavida, Chairman of the Board of the Portuguese Diabetic Protection Association (APDP).

The debate centred on the role of prevention in the sustainability of health systems, the need to prepare responses for an increasingly ageing population with a higher prevalence of chronic disease, and the importance of promoting effective health gains through integrated and multidisciplinary approaches.

In his speech, the President of the Order of Physiotherapists emphasised that “movement is fundamental to the concept of being healthy”, and advocated greater integration of physiotherapy in primary health care and in prevention and health promotion strategies.

The Order of Physiotherapists also reinforced the idea that physiotherapy today plays an important role throughout the entire care pathway - from health promotion and disease prevention to treatment, functional recovery and reducing the impact of chronic diseases on people's lives.

In this context, the contribution of physiotherapists to more integrated models of care, close to communities and centred on the citizen, based on interdisciplinary work and articulation between different health professionals, was highlighted.

The participation of the Order of Physiotherapists in this forum also made it possible to reinforce the importance of creating and consolidating Physiotherapy Services and Units in Local Health Units, recognising the clinical, professional and organisational autonomy of physiotherapists and their contribution to more efficient, sustainable responses geared towards health gains.
 

The conference debated topics such as the future of the National Health Service, the efficiency of health management, financing the system, the role of innovation and regulation, as well as the challenges associated with prevention and the longevity of the Portuguese population.

The CNN Portugal Summit “Innovation in Health” was once again a space for strategic reflection on public health policies and the need to develop organisational models centred on prevention, the integration of care and the efficient use of available resources.

Watch the Order of Physiotherapists take part in the CNN Portugal Summit “Innovation in Health”.

World Hand Hygiene Day: health safety starts with an essential gesture

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Today, 5 May, is World Hand Hygiene Day. The Order of Physiotherapists joins this date, emphasising the importance of hand hygiene for health safety, the prevention of healthcare-associated infections and the quality of care provided.
 
According to information released today by the Directorate-General for Health, through the Programme for the Prevention and Control of Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance (PPCIRA), the adherence of healthcare professionals to hand hygiene reached 82.2% in 2025, confirming a positive and sustained evolution compared to the figures recorded in 2015. Even so, the data reinforces the need to continue consolidating strategies to bring results closer to the levels of excellence recommended internationally.
 
The first moment - before contact with the patient - continues to have the lowest compliance rate among the five moments, which highlights the importance of strengthening adherence to this practice in all care settings.
 
In this context, the Order of Physiotherapists reaffirms its commitment to a professional practice based on safety, prevention and quality of care. At a time when health systems are facing increasingly complex challenges, it is important to remember that a simple, quick and accessible gesture can have a decisive impact on the protection of people, professionals and institutions.
 
To mark this date, the Order of Physiotherapists is making available a set of awareness-raising and information materials on hand hygiene, prepared as part of this campaign. The resources include general background material on the event and posters to support practice, namely on the 5 moments for hand hygiene and the two recommended techniques - washing with soap and water and antiseptic rubbing. The materials are in line with the campaign “Action that Saves Lives” and include messages such as “Save Lives. Sanitise Your Hands” e “We save lives through hand hygiene”, reinforcing the value of this practice as an essential health safety measure.
 
Consult and download the materials below.

Order of Physiotherapists opens nominations for specialty college installation committees on 1st May

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The Order of Physiotherapists will open in 1st May 2026, the period for applications to join the installation committees of the speciality colleges of Cardiorespiratory Physiotherapy, Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy e Neurological Physiotherapy.
 
The process runs until 31st May 2026, This is a new stage in the implementation of the Physiotherapy professional specialities framework, following the approval of the General Regulations for Physiotherapists' Professional Specialities and the formalisation of the three speciality areas already recognised.
An installation committee will be set up for each college, made up of a chairman, a secretary and three members, These structures play an essential role in preparing the operating conditions of the respective colleges. The creation of these committees was already part of the stage following the formal recognition of the specialities in the implementation pathway published by the Order. The Board of the Order of Physiotherapists is responsible for appointing the respective members, with the opinion of the Technical Admissions Committee as to the verification of the applicable dimensions and criteria.
 
Expressions of availability will be submitted exclusively via the platform “Installation Commission”, available at reserved area on the website of the Order of Physiotherapists. The process includes selecting the area of speciality and the position or positions for which the member is applying, as well as completing the different components of the curricular assessment.
 
This stage does not yet correspond to the award of the title of specialist, which will be the subject of a separate procedure at a later date.
 
All the information about this process is available at Frequently Asked Questions, at reserved area on the site, in the Specialities.

Physiotherapists: professional indemnity insurance

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Fisioterapeutas: seguro de responsabilidade civil profissional

Physiotherapists with current registration with the Order of Physiotherapists benefit from professional civil liability insurance, under the terms of the policy in force, for as long as their professional licence remains valid and they are in effective practice. This policy covers professional civil liability and operating civil liability.

Insurance cover

Guarantees and/or CoversLimits of indemnity
Professional Liability
- Indemnification100.000€
- Defence20.000€
Inhibition from practising the profession for up to 18 months
- Monthly amount corresponding to the average remuneration of the last 12 months prior to the claim, up to a maximum of3.000€
Operating Liability20.000€
Overall limit per policy/annuity500.000 €

Franchise: There is no excess in the Particular Conditions of the policy in force.

Additional Information

  • Physiotherapists with current registration with the Order of Physiotherapists benefit from this insurance for as long as their professional card remains valid and they are in effective practice, under the terms of the policy.
  • The contractual guarantees are valid for practising the profession in Portugal.
  • Cover is subject to the terms, limits and exclusions set out in the policy in force.
  • In the event of a claim, the procedure indicated by the Order of Physiotherapists should be followed. reserved area.

Policy Consultation and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

The policy, its conditions and frequently asked questions about professional indemnity insurance are available at reserved area from the website of the Order of Physiotherapists.

Pedro Maciel Barbosa

Specialist physiotherapist at the Matosinhos Local Health Unit Sub-coordinator for Primary Health Care, Matosinhos Local Health Unit Visiting Assistant Professor at the Porto School of Health Member of the Board of Directors of the Foundation for Health - SNS Member of the General Council of the Order of Physiotherapists

Carlos Sand

Carlos Areia has been a physiotherapist since 2013, and has worked in various hospitals, clinics and clubs in both Portugal and the UK. He began his academic career at Oxford University in 2016, where he led a clinical trial comparing physiotherapy vs surgery in anterior cruciate injuries in 32 hospitals in England. In 2018 she moved to the neurosciences department, where she developed her own studies on remote monitoring of vital signs, which were implemented during the pandemic. Here he discovered his passion for data, and in 2022, he joined Digital Science as a Data Scientist. He completed his PhD earlier this year, and has more than 60 publications in journals such as The Lancet, BMJ, Cochrane, among others. He is also an honorary lecturer at Oxford Brookes University and a consultant in clinical research.

Eduardo José Brazete Carvalho Cruz

PhD in Physiotherapy from the University of Brighton, UK. Post-Doctorate in Epidemiology from the National School of Public Health at the New University of Lisbon.
Coordinator of the Studies and Planning Office of the Order of Physiotherapists. Coordinating Professor of the Physiotherapy Department of the School of Health of the Polytechnic Institute of Setúbal (ESS-IPS). President of the ESS-IPS Technical-Scientific Council. Coordinator of the Physiotherapy Department at ESS-IPS. Integrated Researcher at the Comprehensive Health Research Centre (CHRC) (a partnership between FCM-UNL, the National School of Public Health, the University of Évora, the Lisbon Institute of Global Mental Health and Santo Espírito Hospital, Terceira Island, Azores).

Sara Souto Miranda

Sara Souto Miranda has a bachelor's and master's degree in physiotherapy from the University of Aveiro, and a postgraduate qualification in adult respiratory physiotherapy from the same institution. In 2023 she completed her double doctorate in Rehabilitation Sciences/Health, Medicine and Life Sciences at the Universities of Aveiro and Maastricht (Netherlands) and is currently working as a technical-scientific advisor to the Studies and Planning Office (GEP) of the Order of Physiotherapists, and as a guest lecturer at the Piaget Institute in Vila Nova de Gaia. As a member of the Respiratory Research and Rehabilitation Laboratory at the University of Aveiro (Lab3R), she has carried out applied research in which she has assessed and treated patients with respiratory pathology, having taken part in 6 research projects. Throughout her career she has published 19 scientific articles in international peer-reviewed journals with an impact factor, 1 book chapter and more than 50 abstracts in conference proceedings. She was a research volunteer at the Ciro rehabilitation centre (Centre for expertise in chronic organ failure) in the Netherlands, and is currently a member of the Guideline Methodology Network of European Respiratory Society. She was honoured by European Lung Foundation e European Respiratory Society for carrying out patient-centred research, by the Directorate General for Higher Education with a merit grant for his master's degree, and by the Ciro Centre with a grant to support research abroad.

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