Hospital accquired infections are a matter of great concern to patients and affect both the quality of care they receive and the costs of their treatment. Portugal has currently one of the worst rates of infection in Europe.

The Infections Challenge is one of the three challenges initiated by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation as a result of “The Future for Health” Report’s recommendations. These Challenges are designed to support the SNS and the Ministry of Health with their important and demanding responsabilities.

The Infections Challenge is for a group of SNS organisations to demonstrate that can halve the rate in their hospital in 3 years as a precursor to all organisations doing the same.

This Challenge will be officially launched next 31 March by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and the Ministry of Health. The ceremony will be held at The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, at 6:00 p.m.