The session Health Tech Startups and Innovation at the Cascais International Health Forum, was moderated by David Magboulé, founder of LabToMarket, held from May 31 to June 1 at the Estoril Congress Centre. In this session, healthcare professionals and researchers, including Sandra Cavaca, President of SPMS, discussed the transformative role of health tech startups in the healthcare sector. The conversation highlighted how startups are at the forefront of digital health, from telemedicine to AI-driven diagnostics and treatment solutions.
Sandra Cavaca emphasized that “the healthcare ecosystem is increasingly open to innovation, and barriers are gradually being reduced.” As the central body for public health procurement, she also highlighted “innovation partnerships as a promising tool that is still underutilized in Portugal.”
The panel included:
- Sandra Cavaca, President of the SPMS
- Hélia Pereira, Rector of the European University
- Diana Pires, CEO of IHCare – Innovation Hospital Care
- Mafalda Carvalho, Director of the Clinical Research Support Office at ULS Santa Maria
- Manuel Pereira, Board Member and Chief Medical Officer at Hope Care
- Matilde Ferreira, Content Strategy and Communications Manager at UPHILL
- Ricardo Encarnação, Medical Director of Roche Farmacêutica
- Rita Veloso, Executive Member of the ULS Santo António Board of Directors
The forum provided a global platform for dialogue between policymakers, healthcare professionals, researchers, and innovators, focusing on technological innovation and its role in global health.
