ANF promotes health knowledge with the launch of Cientis

The National Association of Pharmacies (ANF) has introduced Cientis, a brand that places scientific evidence, professional training, and innovation at the service of people. Its launch marks a new stage in the promotion of health knowledge within the community pharmacy ecosystem.

Cientis strengthens the Association’s commitment to generating and applying scientific evidence as the foundation of professional practice, promoting innovative solutions that contribute to the improvement of healthcare. This comes in a context where information, data, and science play a central role in healthcare decision-making. The brand unites areas dedicated to training, technical-scientific support, applied research, and health evidence generation in a coordinated vision, aiming to ensure an integrated approach to knowledge throughout its entire cycle—from scientific production to its application in professional practice.

«With the launch of Cientis, the sector consolidates itself as a producer of knowledge, affirming that evidence generated from real-world practice is rigorous, relevant, and directly impactful on public policies and healthcare», said the president of ANF, Ema Paulino, during the brand launch event on February 12, emphasizing that «knowledge and scientific evidence are structuring pillars for the country’s future».

The new brand consolidates a legacy of over 40 years, which has been instrumental in the evolution of community pharmacies in Portugal. This legacy was developed by the Medicines Documentation and Information Centre (CEDIME), which provided technical-scientific information on medicines; the Center for Health Studies and Evaluation (CEFAR), a pioneer in pharmacoepidemiology research and the production and publication of health-applied evidence; and the Postgraduate School in Health and Management (EPGSG), a pillar of continuous training and qualification in the sector since 1983. These three structures now converge under a single stage with the Cientis and Cientis Escola brand.

«Health is increasingly a system for producing information and knowledge, and pharmacies occupy a very important position within this system. Pharmacies have been an example», highlighted the president of INFARMED, Rui Santos Ivo, during the session, which brought together researchers, specialists, and key entities in the sector at the ANF headquarters.

The Cientis launch event featured the debate “Loose Notes: From Knowledge to Impact”, moderated by Fátima Campos Ferreira, with the participation of Luís Portela, President of the Bial Foundation; Nuno Sousa, physician, neuroscientist, researcher, and President of AICIB; and Ema Paulino, President of ANF. The discussion promoted a broad reflection on the role of scientific knowledge in transforming healthcare and generating value for society.