UHS, Nova University Sign MoU of Joint Master Programme in Mental Health Policy

Nova University Lisbon

The University of Health Sciences (UHS) and the Nova University, Lisbon, Portugal, signed an agreement to start an international master’s degree programme in Mental Health Policy and Services.

According to a press release issued here, the agreement was signed by UHS Vice Chancellor Maj Gen (R) Prof Muhammad Aslam and the Rector, Nova University Lisbon Prof Doutor Antonio Rendas.

The programme is basically an initiative of the World Health Organisation (WHO) as the participants of this joint master’s degree will be drawn largely from the low and middle income countries of WHO Eastern Mediterranean region, particularly focusing on Pakistan, Afghanistan, Somalia, Djibouti, Sudan, etc.

The Nova University Lisbon is already offering this course in collaboration with WHO Department of Mental Health and Substance Dependence. The modalities for launching this course were set last year when UHS Board of Governor’s member Prof Malik Hussain Mubashar visited Lisbon.

The UHS VC said the programme would start in March 2015 and initially the course would admit 20 participants using a selection criteria mutually agreed by the two universities. He said as per the agreement, fund-raising for running the joint master’s programme would be directed to governments, NGOs and foundations.

He added the noted local and international mental health and public health professionals would be approached to serve as faculty.