On November 27 and 28, 2025, Angola hosted the First National Hospital Forum, held at the Isabel Fançony Complex in Luanda. The event, held under the slogan “Quality Care, Innovation, and Evidence-Based Leadership,” brought together hospital managers, health professionals, academics, and international partners to discuss strategies for strengthening the National Health System.  

During the meeting, organized by the National Directorate of Hospitals under the supervision of the Minister of Health, Dr. Sílvia Paula Valentim Lutucuta, seven strategic areas were discussed: alignment of strategic orientation; primary health care; hospital care program; patient safety and biosafety; accreditation and certification; epidemiological and hospital information; and hospital quality assessment metrics.  

Minister Sílvia Lutucuta highlighted at the opening of the Forum that hospitals are “essential pillars” of the National Health System, as defined in the sector's Basic Law. She also stressed that, “in view of the common challenges faced by hospitals, such as the need for modernization, staff training, and better management, it is essential to strengthen coordination between central structures and local authorities to ensure quality care for citizens.”  

The WHO Representative in Angola, Dr. Indrajit Hazarika, emphasized the importance of safe, effective, timely, and equitable healthcare, highlighting the central role of hospitals in responding to emergencies and integrating with primary healthcare. “Well-prepared hospitals save lives not only in ordinary times, but especially in health emergencies,” he said, committing to collaborate in implementing the Forum's recommendations.  

Among the main recommendations approved was the need to send regular hospital reports to the National Directorate of Hospitals in order to strengthen monitoring and decision-making. The experts also emphasized the importance of holding workshops for the final approval of Hospital Care Programs and the creation of national commissions for transplant programs, including bone marrow transplants.  

Strengthening communication with users and families, combined with the continuous training of health professionals, was identified as essential to improving the quality of care. Another relevant point included the standardization of digital data recording in all health units, the strengthening of patient safety, and the phased implementation of the certification and accreditation process for hospital services. These recommendations aim to integrate and optimize hospital management, promoting safer, more efficient, and citizen-centered healthcare.  

The First National Hospital Forum has established itself as a space for reflection, exchange of experiences, and definition of concrete actions to strengthen the National Health System. The initiative reinforces Angola’s and the WHO’s commitment to ensuring quality, integrated, and sustainable health services for the entire population.