The Local Health Unit of Coimbra hosts on October 7 and 8 a congress dedicated to health literacy and the difficulties citizens face in navigating the health system. The initiative, titled "Health Literacy, an Emerging Challenge: Contributions to Navigability in the Health System," takes place at the Congress Center of ULS de Coimbra and includes panels on system accessibility, navigability optimization, and the costs associated with low health literacy.
Among the participants, former Health Minister Maria de Belém Roseira and former Secretary of State for Health Fernando Costa Leal stand out. Sérgio Abrunheiro, coordinator of the Health Literacy Group at ULS de Coimbra, told the Lusil news agency that navigability was chosen as the central theme because it is one of the most problematic dimensions identified in national and international studies, noting that many citizens have difficulty understanding where they should go and at what time, in a context marked by successive changes in the organization of the health system.
The congress will focus on two main axes: empowering citizens to access, understand, and use health information, and training professionals in good practices and communication strategies. On Monday, presentations of e-posters and projects are scheduled, followed by working sessions on the rational use of the system and on portals and applications that facilitate access to healthcare.
On Tuesday, a commitment for navigability at ULS de Coimbra is expected to be signed, involving municipalities, schools, educational institutions, patient and caregiver associations, the Directorate-General for Health, and the Shared Services of the Ministry of Health. This commitment is part of the "Health Without Mazes" project, which aims to improve citizens' orientation within the health system and has a timeframe extending to 2028.
