Master in Health Technologies Assessment and Market Access of Medicines

General Objectives of the Course

The objective of the present study cycle proposal is related with a new step of health technologies assessment,beyond the market authorization process evaluating quality, safety and efficacy, particularly in the case of medicines,for the purpose of pricing and reimbursement. Effectiveness, comparative effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and budgetimpact analysis need to be put together on a multidisciplinary way focused on very precise targets. Therefore there is aneed to provide health systems with specialized human resources to the stakeholders involved in the healthtechnology assessment process (pharmaceutical industry, regulators CRO´s, health care institutions, clinicians andpatients associations.

Admission Requirements

1. Holders of a bachelor's degree or legal equivalent in areas of Health Sciences;
2. Holders of a foreign higher academic degree that is recognized as meeting the objectives of a bachelor's degree inone of the areas mentioned in the previous paragraph by the Scientific Council of FFUC;
3. In duly justified cases, holders of an academic, scientific or professional curriculum, which is recognized asattesting the capacity to carry out this cycle of studies by the Scientific Council of the FFUC.

Candidates should check the admission requirements available on this site, in addition to the information provided here.

Professional Goals

Market access departments in pharmaceutical industries, medicines regulatory authorities, health technology assessment agencies, contract research organizations and academia.

Mode of Study

After work, Saturdays and b-learning.

Teaching / Evaluation language(s)

Portuguese

Examination Regulations, Assessment and Grading

As assessment is a pedagogical activity inseparable from the teaching process, its aim is to establish the students' competencies and knowledge, their critical sense, ability to recognize and resolve problems, as well as their written and oral presentation skills. Students may only register for exams for classes they are currently enrolled. The following are examples of assessment items: Oral or written exams, written or practical work, individual and group projects that may require an oral defense, as well as class participation. Assessment for each class may include one or more of the above mentioned items. Grading is based on a scale of 0 to 20 and a grade of 10 is required to pass. Whenever the grade comprises more than one item, the final grade is calculated by taking into account the relative weight of each item according a formula published in the course outline.

Learning Objectives and Intended Skills

a) To understand the general principles, the methodologies used and the purposes of the health technologyassessment function in the context of health systems;
b) To understand and frame the assessment of added therapeutic value in the assessment of health technologies andmarket access;
c) To understand and frame economic evaluation in the assessment of health technologies and market access;
d) To understand the role of health technology assessment in supporting decision-making processes, namely policy;
e) To understand and know how to outline strategies for accessing health technologies to the market, as well as thenegotiation models associated with it.

Course Coordinator(s)

Carlos Miguel Costa Alves
uc42516@uc.pt

Francisco Jorge Batel Marques
batelm@ff.uc.pt

ECTS Departmental Coordinator(s)

António José Ribeiro
aribeiro@ff.uc.pt

Ricardo António Esteves de Castro
rcastro@ff.uc.pt

Recognition of Prior Learning

Recognition of prior learning is carried out in accordance with the Academic Regulation of the University of Coimbra.

Qualification Requirements and Regulations

Decree-Law No. 74/2006, of March 24, in the current wording.

Graduation Requirements

To obtain approval in all curricular units of the study plan, for a total of 120 ECTS credits.

Access to Further Studies

Access to the 3.º cycle of studies.

Study Programme

Health Technologies Assessment and Market Access of Medicines

Academic year
2026-2027

Course Type
2nd Cycle Studies - Advanced Specialisation Master Programme

DGES Code: MD93

Qualification Awarded: Mestre

Duration: 2 Year(s)

ECTS Credits: 120.0

Category: Advanced specialization second cycle

Applications

Call for Applications

Calendar

1st Semester: Start date: 07-09-2026
End date: 18-12-2026
2nd Semester: Start date: 08-02-2027
End date: 20-05-2027

Accreditations

Agência de Avaliação e Acreditação do Ensino Superior: 2022-07-31 a 2028-07-30
Direcção Geral de Ensino Superior: Nº Registo: R/A -Cr 237/2022; 2022-12-02