Foundation year：1991

Webpage：www.apsono.com

Number of members：254

Composition of members (degree, specialties, subspecialties, etc.):Pneumologists:21,1%, Psychiatrists:18,6%, Neurologists:12,7%, Psychologists:5,9%, Pediatricians:4,6%, ENT:4,2%, Dentistry:1,3%, Other Medical specialities:4,6%, Technicians:21.9%, Engineers:2.1%, Other occupations:3%

Historical perspective of the society:The Portuguese Sleep Association (APS) was created in 21-10-1991 to promote research, awareness and education relating to the study of sleep and sleep disorders. In order to carry out it′s goals, the Association pledges to encourage and implement the assembly of doctors and researchers. Since it′s creation, the APS has organized several meetings that significantly contributed to improve Portuguese sleep science. APS has also been active in promoting awareness campaigns for the general public.

Important sleep physicians/researchers in the history of the NSS:Agostinho Rosa, António Atalaia, António Martins da Silva, Carlos Fernandes, Cristina Bárbara, Filipe Arriaga, Jo?o Carlos Winck, Joaquim Moita, José Moutinho dos Santos, Helena Estev?o, Maria Helena Azevedo, Marta Gon?alves, Teresa Paiva, Vanda Clemente.

Number of Sleep Medicine Centers (link to their titles and locations):There are several public and private sleep medicine centers across the country, although none of them is yet accredited. The process of accreditation should start soon.

Number of Sleep Research Centers (link to their titles and locations):Porto-Hospital de Santo António/Centro Hospitalar do Porto, Hospital de S. Jo?o-Oporto Medical School, Centro Hospitalar de Vila Nova de Gaia, Instituto do sono-Centro Clínico e Investig??o Aveiro-Department of Education, University of Aveiro Coimbra-Medical School, University of Coimbra; Centro de Medicina de Sono, CHUC Lisbon-Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Norte, Molecular Medicine Institute, Lisbon Medical School, University of Lisbon, CENC-Centro de Medicina de Sono.

Accreditation/Certification procedure:Sleep Medicine Competency approved by Medical Association in June 2012.

Educational programs:There are no specific curricula for Sleep Medicine in Portugal since Sleep Medicine is not yet recognized as an isolated medical specialty.

The main sources of education for health care providers include:

-Teaching courses for GP′s or other specialities organised locally in connection with sleep medicine centers.

-The APS organizes a course, every two years, concerning different aspects of Sleep Medicine.

-In Oporto University Medical School there is a PhD Clinical Neuroscience, Neuropsychiatry and Mental Health programme with a specific Sleep Medicine module that started in 2011-2012, coordinated by Marta Gon?alves, MD, MsC.

-In Lisbon University Medical School there were 6 editions of a Master Degree of Sleep Sciences, held during 2005-2011. During the same period there were also 5 graduations in Sleep Sciences. These courses were chaired by Teresa Paiva, Md, PhD.