M8 Alliance: Coimbra Health

Over 700 years old, the University of Coimbra (UC) counts on a unique heritage, being a keystone of European and World scientific culture and a recognized UNESCO World Heritage site. The chronicler of Santa Cruz Monastery of Coimbra claims that the first teacher of Physics (Medicine) in Portugal were taught there by Mendo Dias, under the reign of King D. Sancho I (1185-1211), the second King of Portugal. The University of Coimbra was created in 1290, by royal decree of King D. Dinis, one century after the foundation of Portugal. King D. Manuel I (1501) in order to replace several small medieval assistance institutions of the old city created The Royal Hospital, which may be considered the ancestor of CHUC. In 1774 the Marquis of Pombal, Prime Minister of King D. José, undertook a major reform of the University. After 1974 political democratic changes in Portugal, HUC was integrated in the national healthcare system (SNS) and 1986 it was definitely settled in a new building located in a modern area of the city. In 2001, however, the UC new Pólo das Ciências da Saúde - concentrating an extension of the Faculty of Medicine, the Faculty of Pharmacy and different Centers and research Units-, was built near CHUC. In 2011, several independent hospitals of the city were merged into a major Hospital Center - CHUC / Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra. Nowadays UC and CHUC are two independent public institutions. UC and more particularly its Faculty of Medicine and CHUC share a long history extended to Portuguese speaking communities around the world, delivering recognized education, research and translation in medicine, healthcare services, health sciences and technologies. UC and CHUC, joined by common goals of excellence within an increasingly stronger international positioning in health forums and markets, aim to lead a positive and sustainable impact on the community, as clearly establishes their Consortium Coimbra Health.