GENERAL INFORMATION
Accommodation
Please view the accommodation page for recommendations.
Bank Services and Money Matters
Banks are generally open weekdays from 9.30 am until 1 pm and from 3 pm to 7pm. See detailed information HERE.
There are multiple bank machines (ATMs) open 24 hours a day throughout the city which accept all major international bankcards.
The official currency of Portugal is the Euro (EUR). Major credit cards are widely accepted, but please always check beforehand. When paying by credit card for your shopping, you might be asked to show identification. Please have an ID with you all the time, otherwise they may refuse to accept your credit card as payment. Travel checks can be cashed in most of the banks and exchange offices.
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Coins: 1c, 2c, 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, 1€ and 2€
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Banknotes: 5 €, 10 €, 20 €, 50 €, 100 €, 200 € and 500 €
Cancellations & Refunds
Notice of cancellation had to be made in writing by email or fax to the Congress Office.
The policy for refunding registration fees is as follows:
Written cancellation received:
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until July 5, 2024 | 50% refund
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from July 6, 2024 | no refund
The date of the email/fax ID is the basis for considering refunds. Refunds will be made after the congress.
Car Parking
The car park of the venue has capacity for 80 cars (no reservation, first-come-first-served).
Certificate of Attendance
Confirmations of attendance will be issued after the conference after completion of a post-conference online survey.
Climate
The warm season lasts for 3.1 months, from June 18 to September 23, with an average daily high temperature above 22°C. The hottest month of the year in Porto is August, with an average high of 24°C and low of 15°C.
Please follow the LINK to view the current weather.
Cloakroom & Luggage
A cloakroom and luggage storage will be available close to the registration area.
Coffee Breaks & Lunch
Coffee breaks are included in the registration fee.
Lunch tickets can be purchased during online registration. Note that lunch tickets can NOT be purchased on site.
Exact times are listed in the programme overview. Coffee and lunch will be served in the exhibition area.
Conference Venue
Fundação Eng. António de Almeida
Rua Tenente Valadim, 231/ 325
4100-479 Porto
Currency
The official currency in Portugal is the Euro (EUR).
Please use the Currency Converter to view the current exchange rates.
Drinking Water
Tap water is drinkable everywhere in Belgium. Only if there is a sign saying it is prohibited, then you cannot drink the water.
Electricity Supply
Portugal uses the Type F plug. Type F electrical plugs used in Portugal are manufactured to the CEE 7/4 and CEE 7/7 standards and is commonly referred to as a Schuko plug. The line and neutral plug contacts for Portugal Type F plugs are two round pins with a 4.8 millimeter diameter.. Portugal operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz.
See: https://internationalconfig.com/portugal-plugs.asp
Emergency Services
In a medical emergency as a result of an accident, violence or a fire, call 112 (valid throughout the European Union).
Exhibition
Entrance to the exhibition is free for registered delegates but limited to healthcare professionals, press and exhibitors.
GSM Cell Phone Roaming
GSM cell/mobile phone roaming is available without any problems for all major international providers. It is advisable to inquire beforehand or online at your provider which roaming company in Portugal offers the cheapest tariffs.
Insurance
By registering to the EHMSG conference, participants agree that neither the organising committee nor the congress office assume any liability whatsoever. Participants are requested to make their own arrangements for health and travel insurance. The conference fee does not include insurance.
When travelling to Portugal, make sure you know what emergency healthcare you are entitled to, what medicines you can bring into the country, what to do in an emergency, and what travel insurance you will need.
Language
The official language of the congress will be English (no simultaneous translation).
Passport & Visa
Please check passport and visa requirements in due time before your departure. Visas can take a while to be processed, so leave enough time before departure to apply.
It is the sole responsibility of the delegate to take care of his/her visa requirements. Delegates who require an entry visa must allow sufficient time for the application procedure. Delegates should contact the nearest Portuguese embassy or consulate to determine the appropriate timing of their visa applications.
Note: Portuguese embassies and consulates-general are independent decision-making agencies for visas, sometimes after specific checks have been made with other countries. You cannot appeal against the rejection of a visa application; neither can the EHMSG organizing office intervene on your behalf in case of a rejection or to speed up the procedure.
Delegate registration details will be shared with the Portuguese immigration authorities on request to assist in the immigration process. However, the congress organizers and/or the EHMSG registration department will not directly contact embassies and consulates on behalf of visa applicants.
The registration fee minus a handling fee of EUR 100.- will be refunded after the congress if the visa was applied for in time and proof is shown that a visa could not be granted even though all requested documents were submitted. Refund requests must be made in writing and sent to the EHMSG registration department, by email, no later than July 5, 2024, after which requests for such refunds cannot be taken into consideration.
For information on Visa requirements please visit Portuguese Visa Application Requirements
Safety - Crime
Use of common sense is (always) required, as in any larger city. Experience has shown that some basic precautionary measures should always be kept in mind in any city:
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Do not carry important items like flight tickets, passports etc. with you when visiting the conference or strolling through the city, leave them in the hotel safe during your stay. Rather carry a Xerox copy of your passport or an identity card with you.
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Try not to carry all documents, money, credit cards and other essential items and valuables in one bag or purse. If it is lost or stolen, everything will be gone and might be difficult to replace on short notice, especially passports and visa to return to your country of residence.
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Take off your name badge when leaving the conference centre.
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In heavily frequented tourist zones and the metro at rush hour, be aware of attempts of scam and pickpocketing.
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Do not respond to anybody unknown to you who comes up to you on the street engaging you in a conversation, no matter how safe they appear to be
Shops
SBanks are generally open weekdays from 9.30 am until 1 pm and from 3 pm to 7pm. See detailed information HERE.
Smoking Policy
The EHMSG Conference is officially a “No-smoking-Conference”.
Smoking is banned in all public places including all enclosed or partially enclosed public areas.
Social Media Guidelines
EHMSG supports the use of social media around the EHMSG conference to network with your colleagues and friends attending the meeting. Please do however respect the EHMSG social media guidelines, including the following:
Dos:
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You may blog or tweet about content of the talks, unless the speaker explicitly asks you not to share either the entire talk or specific details or slides.
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Communicate in a respectful and considerate way, and show your criticism in a fair, constructive and professional manner.
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Do remember that people who will read your tweets are not necessarily professionals, but also patients, policymakers, members of the media, and the general public.
Don’ts:
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The use of photography, video, or other type of recording devices in oral sessions (plenary, educational, concurrent sessions and symposia) and poster sessions at the EHMSG conference is strictly prohibited. Hence posting pictures or videos of these sessions on any social media platform, blogs, or websites, etc., is also strictly prohibited.
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Do not capture or re-distribute data presented at the EHMSG conference as this may jeopardize the subsequent publication of the data in a scientific journal. Powerpoint presentations must not be photographed under any circumstances. Do respect journal embargo policies and the work of your colleagues!
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Refrain from engaging in personal attacks or showing rude behaviour.
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Offensive and disrespectful behaviour, sales-oriented, self-promoting, or otherwise inappropriate comments will not be tolerated.
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Participants should not post copyrighted or trademarked material or material protected by other intellectual property rights.
Staff
If you should have any questions, the congress staff will be pleased to help you.
Taxis, Public Transportation, Bike Rental
Please see https://www.introducingporto.com/public-transport
Telephone Calls
The Portuguese country code is +351. To call abroad, dial 00 before the area code.
Time Zone
At the time of the conference: Central European Summer Time (WEST) is 1 hour ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).
See https://www.timeanddate.com/time/zone/portugal/porto
Tourist Information Centre
PORTO CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU
Rua Miguel Bombarda, 211 4050-381 Porto
T (+351) 223 326 751 (Portugal landline network)
M (+351) 915 390 924 (Portugal mobile network)
Travel-Health Insurance
As part of visa application, individuals must have travel-health insurance for the duration of their stay in Portugal. This insurance can be obtained from any approved insurer. Individuals need to check with the responsible embassy/consulate for a list of approved insurers available in their country.
Individuals must have insurance for their entire stay and therefore are encouraged to ensure and pay for the correct number of days. The visa will only be given for the dates that are covered by the insurance policy, which need to relate to the travel dates.
V.A.T.
The VAT rate in Portugal is 23%.
WiFi
Wifi is available throughout the conference venue.