Monday, February 28, 2011

First Preparatory Meeting for the Third SEE Ministers of Health Forum

The first preparatory meeting of the 3rd SEE Ministers of Health Forum "Health in All Policies in the SEE: A Shared Goal and Responsibility" took place in Banja Luka, 17-18 February 2011.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the SEE countries as well as other representatives of partner countries and agencies of the SEE Health Network. The meeting discussed several important aspects for the preparation of the 3rd Forum. Important decisions were also made in regard of future steps up to the Forum.

The second preparatory meeting is scheduled for 14-15 April 2011 in Ljubjana, Slovenia.

You can read or download the report of the meeting here.
You can read or download the workplan of the SEE Health Network here.

South East Europe Regional e-Health conference

South East Europe Regional e-Health conference - Bridging the gap, building the future
(Ljubljana - Slovenia 16-18 February 2011)

The Centre for eGovernance Development (CeGD), together with Regional Cooperation Council and partners Microsoft, Siemens, Intel, SAP, Consalta co-organized the second regional eHealth conference of the CeGD eGovernance Academy 2011 series, entitled SEeHealth: Bridging the Gap, building the Future. The event, held in Ljubljana, Slovenia, from 16th to 18th of February, featured 24 prominent speakers from 11 European countries.

The event brought together 81 participants from 15 European countries (Albania,Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, France, Germany, Kosovo,Macedonia, Montenegro, Slovenia, Serbia, Turkey and the United Kingdom). The main objective of the event was to provide the participants with the knowledge, cases and solutions, which may be of assistance to their countries and organisations in creating modern ICT supported health care, which will be able to tackle the prevailing demographic, economic and social issues burdening all health care systems in Europe.

E-Health can improve access to healthcare and boost the quality and effectiveness of the services offered. E-Health describes the application of information and communications technologies across the whole range of functions that affect the health sector. When combined with organizational changes and the development of new skills, e-Health can help to deliver better care for less money within citizen-centred health delivery systems. It thus responds to the major challenges that the health sector – which employs 9% of Europe’s workforce – is currently facing.

The SEE Health Network opportunities in the area were presented by Mr Nand Shani, Expert on Economic and Social Development, Regional Cooperation Council.

You can read or download a copy of the presentation here.
You can read or download a copy of the conference report here.

The RDHC on Human Organ and Tissue Transplantation Inaugurated

Dr. Ante - Zvonimir Golem, State Secretary for Health and Social Welfare, on 22nd of February 2011 inaugurated officially a Regional Health Development Center for Organ Donation and Transplantation for South Eastern European Countries (SEE) in Zagreb, Croatia.

On behalf of the SEE Health Network, Mr Goran Čerkez, Member of its Executive Committee, addressed the participants to this important event and expressed support of the SEE Health Network to the Center's successful and fruitful future endeavors. He also emphasized the role of the Center in the context of the new phase and developments of the regional cooperation in health, operationalized by the SEE Health Network and need of further strengthening and establishing RHDC’s in other technical areas of work of the SEE Health Network.

The newly designated Regional Health Development Center on organ donation and transplantation, will operate in full compliance with SEE Health Network basic objectives, promoting WHO Guiding Principles, CoE Recommendations, and safety and quality standards as per the EU Directive’s requirements in organ donation and transplantation field.

The President of “Eurotransplant” highlighted the fact that Croatia became the most successful country in organ donation and transplantation in as little as three years of “Eurotransplant” membership, as a highly commendable achievement. According to Mr Meiser, Croatian model can be a source of inspiration for other countries.

World Health Organization expressed its support to this event through a letter of the WHO Regional Director, Ms Zsuzsana Jakab:
Regional center has grown within the framework of strengthening regional cooperation between countries of South Eastern Europe in the field of organ donation and transplantation, and Croatia’s position as the regional leader in the field of transplantation.”

We are honored by the transplant results achieved in the past few years, which have positioned Croatia among the highest ranking countries in the world. Through this centre we would like to exchange experiences, good practices and provide assistance to other SEE countries to develop their own, efficient donation and transplantation systems”, said Dr. Ante - Zvonimir Golem, the State Secretary.

Back to back with the inauguration of the RHDC, the First Meeting of the National Focal Points for Donation and Transplantation of the member states of the SEE Health Network was held.

Among the distinguished guests present at the inaugural ceremony were prominent figures from the South-eastern Europe Health Network, Council of Europe, and Delegation of the European Union, as well as leading experts in the field of organ donation and transplantation from international scientific and professional societies and organizations who gave their support to the Center.

The South-eastern European (SEE) countries, members of the SEE Health Network have committed to start a long-term regional cooperation aimed to enhance deceased organ donation and transplantation programs in the Region. National Focal Points of the SEE countries, as RHDC future main collaborative partners, were present at this important event. 

The initial summary was prepared by:
Mirela Bušić, MD
Regional Project Manager,
SEE RHDC for Organ Donation and Transplantation

Monday, February 21, 2011

Inauguration of the RHDC on Human Organ and Tissue Transplantation, Zagreb, 22 February 2011

The RDHC on Human Organ and Tissue Transplantation will be officially inaugurated on 22 February 2011, in Zagreb. The event is organized by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare of Republic of Croatia.

In addition to the inauguration, a workshop is organized to present the scope, objectives, functions and the workplan of the Center. This workshop brings together SEE national counterparts and stakeholders for discussing the challenges, future action and proposals for regional cooperation in the field of organ donation and transplantation.

This event is attended by high level representatives of the SEE Ministries of Health, SEEHN Executive Committee members and representatives from SEEHN partner countries and organizations.

You can read or download a copy of the workshop agenda here.

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

1st Preparatory meeting - Practical Information

Dear Participants,

The local organizers have finalized the Information Circular for the meeting. You can read or download the document here.

Working documents for the first preparatory meeting:

Preliminary Information (please refer to the Information Circular for complete information)
The following is some practical information on the first preparatory meeting for the 3rd SEE Ministers of Health Forum "Health in All Policies in the SEE: A Shared Goal and Responsibility". The meeting will take place in Banja Luka on 17-19 February 2011. The official Information Circular will be sent to you shortly.

Start and duration of the meeting
The meeting will start on 17 February at 09.00 hrs and will end no later than 19 February at 12.00 hrs.

Transportation
The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in Banja Luka will arrange for local transportation for participants traveling by airplane to Zagreb airport (Croatia). You are kindly asked to provide your travel details (date, time and airline for arrival and departure) to
Ms Natalia Olesen,
WHO/Europe,
email: nmo@euro.who.int

For those that will choose to fly from Zagreb, a taxi from Banja Luka to Zagreb the approximate cost of the taxi trip (one way) is 120 Euros. Direct flights from Ljubjana to Banja Luka can be explored at:
http://www.banjaluka-airport.com/rasporedletenja.html

Hotel and Accommodation
The participants are encouraged to contact with the hotel directly for the type of the room and the duration of stay BUT NO LATER THAN 12 FEBRUARY 2011. The local organizers have provisionally pre-booked rooms at:


Hotel Bosnia, Banja Luka, www.hotelbosna.com
Contact person:

Ms Ana Culibrk
phone +387 51 225 220

A" LUX rooms
- Single bed room (French bed)
- Double bed room (French bed)
- Single bed room (French bed) with halfboard *
- Double bed room (French bed) with halfboard
- Single bed room (French bed) with fullboard**
- Double bed room (French bed) with fullboard
- Single room suite
- Double room suite
- Daily rest
Amount in EUR
81,80
112,82
89,47
128,21
97,44
143,59
205,13
287,18
41,03
"B" LUX rooms
- Single bed room (French bed)
- Double bed room (French bed)
- Single bed room (French bed) with halfboard*
- Double bed room (French bed) with halfboard
- Single bed room (French bed) with fullboard**
- Double bed room (French bed) with fullboard
- Single room suite
- Double room suite
- Daily rest
Amount in EUR
58,79
82,05
66,47
97,44
74,36
112,82
107,69
153,85
30,77
- Car garage               10,26
- Residence tax             1,03

* Halfboard includes breakfast and an optional meal (lunch or dinner).
** Fullboard includes all three meals.
Guest book may be found at the reception.
Prices include 17% tax.


Confirmed participation
Albania, Mr Romeo Zegali, MoH
Bulgaria, Ms Dimitrova, Deputy Minister of Health, NHC
Romania, Dr Lucia Duminica, MoH
Slovenia, Ms Dunja Gruntar Golanda, MoH, plus another HiAP expert from IPH
Macedonia, Ms Snezana Cicevalieva, MoH
SEEHN Executive Committee, Dr Alex Berlin
WHO/Europe, Dr Maria Ruseva, Dr Matthias Wismar, Ms Theadora Koller

Confirmed non-participations
Republic of Moldova
Montenegro
European Center for Disease Control
Council of Europe
Council of Europe Development Bank
Regional Cooperation Council

Note: This post will be updated continuously.

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Address by SEEHN President, Dr Konstantinov, Minister of Health of Bulgaria

Dear South-eastern Europe Health Network Members and Partners,

Colleagues and friends,

I am honoured to address you as a current SEE Health Network President.

First, let me note that the Bulgarian Presidency is being held at a historical stage of the SEE Health Network institutionalization and the enhanced regional cooperation in South-eastern Europe in the field of public health.

I am pleased to point out that since its inception the South-eastern Europe Health Network has made important progress. Moreover, with the kind political, technical and financial support from its partner countries and international organizations the SEEHN contributed to improving the health of the populations in the region and managed to take over ownership of the regional cooperation for health under the auspices of the Regional Cooperation Council and the South East Europe Co-operation Process.

We are all politically aware of the fact that building up regional ownership in public health and the necessary institutional capacities is a process and we still have important tasks to fulfill. In my judgment, we must carefully look at where we are today and realize that without political commitment it is not possible to enhance regional ownership and give the regional cooperation in health more visibility.

I would also like to stress that although at different levels health systems in the SEE region are facing common important challenges in delivering equal, efficient and high quality health services in circumstances of limited recourses and steadily increasing expenditures. On the other hand, the complex and rapidly changing public health landscape needs concerted efforts and will for global and regional partnership.

In this context, I would like to express my hope that by joining our efforts we will continue working together to ensure sustainability of the regional cooperation for health and ultimately to achieve the more ambitious strategic goal: the move from regional ownership to regional leadership.

Dr. Stefan Konstantinov
Minister of Health of Bulgaria
SEEHN President (Jan-Jun 2011)
 
You can read or download the letter of Minister Konstantinov here.