Health systems

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• WHO/Europe hosts visit from Bosnia and Herzegovina delegation
  21-05-2012
  On 14 May 2012, Mr Sredoje Novic, Minister of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Dr Ranko Skrbic, Minister of Health and Social Welfare of the Republika Srpska, met Ms Zsuzsanna Jakab, WHO Regional Director for Europe, and other WHO/Europe senior-management staff.
• 29TH Meeting of the South-eastern Europe Health Network (SEEHN) in Zagreb, on 04-05 June 2012
  15-05-2012
  The Croatian Presidency of the South-eastern Europe Health Network (SEEHN) (January-June 2012) is organizing its 29th Meeting in Zagreb, on 04-05 June 2012.
• Follow webcast of health-financing course
  10-05-2012
  Two sessions of the popular Barcelona course in health financing will be webcast for the first time in May. The introductory session, on Monday, 14 May 2012, and a keynote session on universal coverage and private financing, on Wednesday, 16 May will both be streamed
• Primary care structure and provision in Romania: report launched
  02-05-2012
  A report evaluating the structure and provision of primary care in Romania - the primary care evaluation tool - was launched during the annual meeting of family doctors in Bucharest recently.
• Release of Vol.2, Issue 1 - Clinical Health Promotion
  01-05-2012
  Vol.2, Issue 1 of Clinical Health Promotion - Research and Best practice for patients, staff and community is now released.  
• Diabetes and Health systems
  27-04-2012
  The OECD and the Danish National Diabetes Association organized the European Diabetes Leadership Forum in Copenhagen, 25-26 April 2012.
• Hospital Financing
  24-04-2012
  A lunch session on Hospital Financing was organized by the Belgian Federal Public Service of Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment at the side-lines of the WHO High Level Health Policy Forum in Brussels, 19 April 2012.
• WHO/Europe holds expert meeting to review the Essential Public Health Operations
  03-04-2012
  Building on a wide consultation process, the WHO Regional Office for Europe has convened an expert meeting to develop a revised version of the Essential Public Health Operations (EPHOs) based on the compendium of inputs/comments from Member States and other international partners, in Copenhagen, Denmark, 29-30 March 2012.
• European Forum of National Nursing and Midwifery Associations annual meeting, Copenhagen, 29-30 March 2012
  03-04-2012
  The European Forum of National Nursing and Midwifery Associations held their 16th Annual Meeting with WHO on 29-30 March 2012, in Copenhagen.
• Public Health in Germany
  28-03-2012
  The German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina held a Scientific Symposium on “Public Health in Germany – in the context of international structures, developments and global health challenges” in Berlin, Friday 16 March 2012.
• WHO/Europe to assist Greece in pharmaceutical health care pricing
  23-03-2012
  WHO/Europe has responded positively to a request from the Greek Ministry of Health and Social Solidarity to provide technical assistance in the field of pricing and reimbursement of pharmaceuticals and other public health areas based on a joint assessment. This was announced by Dr Hans Kluge, Director of the Division of Health Systems and Public Health, at a conference about the future of health care in Greece held in Athens on 20 March 2012.
• European public health action plan: Consultation generates important feedback
  20-03-2012
  International organizations and more than 35 countries made recommendations on revising both the structure and content of the draft action plan.
• Netherlands collaborating centre working on new approach to primary care
  07-03-2012
  On 20 February 2012, WHO/Europe agreed key research areas for the next two years with the Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research (NIVEL), a WHO collaborating centre for primary care.
• WHO, EC and StopTB Partnership strengthen collaboration
  28-02-2012
  WHO/Europe, in collaboration with the StopTB Partnership and WHO headquarters, organized a joint visit of the United Nations Secretary-General's Special Envoy to Stop TB, President Sampaio, to the European Commission on 22 February 2012.
• Health system performance assessment for health governance
  24-02-2012
  On 16-17 February 2012, representatives from 18 Member States and a number of WHO Regional Office partner organizations met to explore the demand for tools to strengthen health system performance assessment (HSPA).
• New publication on blood safety from the South-eastern Europe Health Network
  21-02-2012
  WHO/Europe has recently published a new document entitled, "Current status and future strategies in safe blood and blood components transnational availability for medical emergencies and special circumstances in South-eastern Europe".
• WHO/Europe and the European Forum of Medical Associations (EFMA) prepare for next meeting
  17-02-2012
  WHO/Europe hosted EFMA’s Liaison Committee on 10 February 2012, and discussed preparations for EFMA’s next meeting and its partnership with WHO. 
• Slovenia hosts equity focus health system performance assessment workshop
  09-02-2012
  The workshop on equity focus in health system performance assessment (EfHSPA) took place in Ljubljana, Slovenia, 1-2 December 2011. The workshop provided a platform for cross-country learning.
• Hospital sector reform: Republic of Moldova and Estonia learn from each other
  08-12-2011
  A study visit of health care managers from the Republic of Moldova to Estonia took place from 5 to 9 December 2011. The visit was organized by the WHO country offices in both countries, in close partnership with health sector authorities and health care providers in Estonia.
• New clinical health promotion research centre opens in Scandinavia
  29-11-2011
  The opening of the brand new Clinical Health Promotion Centre, a collaboration between Nordic research institutions, was celebrated on 18 November 2011. The new centre will strengthen global clinical research and development in five key areas: alcohol/drugs, tobacco, nutrition, physical activity and comorbidity.
• Latest issue of Health Promoting Hospitals (HPH) newsletter now available
  21-11-2011
  Issue 52 of the International Network of Health Promoting Hospitals & Health Services (HPH) is now available. This issue has articles on the upcoming HPH conference in Taipei, the WHO Global conference on social determinants of health in Rio de Janeiro, and news from HPH networks (Austria, Slovenia, Canada).
• WHO/Europe invites partners to develop European action plan on public health
  18-11-2011
  WHO/Europe is developing a new European action plan on public health. Participants at the Polish European Union Presidency conference, “Solidarity in health. Closing the health gap between European Union States”, were invited last week to partner WHO in developing and implementing the plan.
• Joint annual review meeting on national health strategy of Tajikistan
  04-11-2011
  The Ministry of Health, in cooperation with the WHO Country office, Tajikistan, and development partners convened a two-day joint annual review meeting on 27-28 October 2011, in Dushanbe, to review the status and discuss the achievements of the first year of implementation of the National Health Strategy 2010-2020, which is being implemented within the framework of the work plan of the Ministry of Health.
• "Estonian Handbook for Guidelines Development" launched
  17-10-2011
  On 14 October 2011, the Medical Faculty at the University of Tartu, Estonian Health Insurance Fund and the World Health Organization launched the "Estonian Handbook for Guidelines Development" as an outcome of a 2-year preparation process. It provides guidance for health-care providers and public health specialists about evidence-based options for diagnosis and care of patients that help to improve the quality of care in Estonia.
• Chief nursing officers renew collaboration with WHO/Europe at European meeting
  13-10-2011
  A meeting of the Chief Nursing Officers (CNOs) of all Member States of the WHO European Region was held in Warsaw, Poland, immediately following the European Chief Medical Officers’ Meeting, on 7-8 October 2011.
• Shift to engaging citizens and patients in health services needed
  12-10-2011
  Speaking at the European Chief Medical Officers’ Meeting, held in Warsaw, Poland on 6–7 October 2011, Professor José Maria Martin-Moreno, Director, Programme Management at WHO/Europe, called for a shift from top-down control over public health to engaging citizens and patients in health services, because of the importance of behavioural risk factors in causing noncommunicable diseases.
• Poland to host meeting of Chief Nursing Officers
  04-10-2011
  This week, on 7-8 October 2011, a meeting of the Chief Nursing Officers (CNOs) of all Member States of the WHO European Region will be held in Warsaw, Poland.
• Health Financing System in the Republic of Moldova: 10th anniversary health insurance conference held in Chisinau
  30-09-2011
  On Friday, 23 September 2011, the National Health Insurance Company of the Republic of Moldova held a jubilee conference, The Health Financing System in the Republic of Moldova, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of its founding.
• Estonia shares health insurance fund experience with Republic of Moldova
  30-09-2011
  Within the framework of a development cooperation project, the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is financing the project “Supporting the Functioning of Moldovan Health Insurance System” conducted by the Estonian Health Insurance Fund. The main aim of this project is to support the development of Moldovan health insurance system through sharing the Estonian experience.
• EU supports launch of WHO Health Policy Support Project in Tajikistan
  30-09-2011
  On the 1st of June 2011, the World Health Organization launched the Health Policy Support Project in Tajikistan, with the financial support of the European Union.
• Future model of public health services strengthening and strategy developing in Tajikistan
  22-09-2011
  On 20-23 September 2011 WHO/Europe, WHO Country office, Tajikistan and the Ministry of Health of Tajikistan organized a meeting and workshop on public health services reform, the future model of public health services, and strategy developing and strengthening. The meeting was attended by members of the working group for the evaluation and reform of public health strengthening, representatives of the Ministry of Health of Tajikistan, and representatives of international organizations. 
• Poland hosts upcoming policy dialogue on hospital governance
  06-09-2011
  An upcoming policy dialogue organized jointly by the WHO Regional Office for Europe, the European Observatory and Ministry of Health of Poland, will take place on 19 September 2011 with the theme, “Changing patterns of hospital governance: what can be learnt from the European experience?”
• Public health developments in south-eastern Europe
  21-07-2011
  Cooperation on public health in south-eastern Europe is gaining momentum as countries establish regional health development centres to share resources and expertise.
• WHO/Europe supports health care reform in Greece
  24-06-2011
  Speaking at a conference in Athens this week, the Director of WHO/Europe’s Division of Health Systems and Public Health said that WHO/Europe is working with the Government of Greece on its health care reform.
• Turkey’s health system well prepared for crises
  30-05-2011
  On 24 May 2011, a new WHO/Europe report, “Assessment of health systems’ crisis preparedness: Turkey”, was launched in Ankara by Professor Recep Akdağ, Minister of Health of Turkey, during a press conference attended by representatives of WHO/Europe and the European Commission (EC).
• High-level policy-makers attend first Barcelona Course in Health Financing
  27-05-2011
  Forty-six high-level health professionals from 20 countries attended the first Barcelona Course in Health Financing, held from 2 to 6 May 2011. The course focused on how to improve health system performance through better health financing policies. The course was organized and delivered by the WHO Barcelona Office for Health Systems Strengthening, Division of Health Systems and Public Health.
• Modernizing hospital networks in the Republic of Moldova
  23-05-2011
  A policy round table on hospitals was held in the Republic of Moldova on 18-19 May 2011.
• Turkey “translated into action” Tallinn Charter on Health Systems
  12-05-2011
  In recent years, Turkey’s national health service has undergone major reforms, yielding significant improvements in utilization, effectiveness and health outcomes. Ms Zsuzsanna Jakab, WHO Regional Director for Europe, has identified Turkey as a successful example of a country implementing the values and principles of the Tallinn Charter.
• Doubling expenditure on the National Health Service in England had a variable impact on health system performance
  17-03-2011
  A report published yesterday reveals that while public expenditure on health care in England more than doubled between 1997 and 2010, the impact on health system performance has been variable.
• Public health is back on European countries’ agenda
  11-03-2011
  The second day of the European Health Policy Forum in Andorra focused on health systems and public health. Countries described the progress they had made with health reforms, sometimes in difficult economic circumstances, since adopting the Tallinn Charter: “Health Systems for Health and Wealth” in 2008.
• European countries take up the Health 2020 challenge
  10-03-2011
  In Andorra, the first meeting of the European Health Policy Forum of High-level Government Officials opened on 9 March 2011, to launch a two-year process that will shape Health 2020, the new European policy for health.
• New ways of paying for primary health care discussed in Belarus
  10-03-2011
  Representatives of the health and finance ministries, as well as the regions, met in Minsk on 1–2 March 2011 to discuss ways to further improve the financing of primary health care in Belarus.
• Development of HEALTH2020 under way
  18-10-2010
  International experts in public health met on 14 October 2010 to map out the broad goals and targets of the new European health policy, HEALTH2020, at a meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark.
• WHO/Europe contributes to health budget discussions in Latvia
  01-09-2010
  WHO experts contributed to discussions 08 September 2010 at the Latvian parliament on the development of a public health strategy and the health budget.
• Meeting with the Department of Health of England
  01-09-2010
  On 25 August 2010, Ms Zsuzsanna Jakab, WHO Regional Director for Europe, and senior WHO managers received a delegation from the Department of Health to discuss ongoing collaboration on health systems performance assessment. 
• WHO/Europe and World Bank collaborate on study of health systems
  01-09-2010
  Since 1990, eastern Europe and central Asia have made significantly lower gains in life expectancy than any group of middle- or high-income countries. WHO/Europe is working with the World Bank on a results-based assessment of health systems in these countries.
• WHO discusses health priorities with the European Forum of Medical Associations
  15-07-2010
  Members of the Liaison Committee of the European Forum of Medical Associations (EFMA) met with WHO/Europe staff for a full day to discuss future priorities for collaboration.
• Learning from Nordic health systems
  21-06-2010
  Ministers of health and social affairs from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden met in Aalborg, Denmark today to exchange experience and discuss how to cooperate more closely to tackle noncommunicable diseases and provide highly specialized health care.
• Second technical advisory global meeting on innovative technologies, Copenhagen, Denmark, 27–29 April 2010
  22-05-2010
  This meeting was organized within the framework of the global initiative on health technologies, and medical devices in particular, and hosted by WHO/Europe.
• Conference held to discuss the future of Estonia's health system
  22-05-2010
  On 5 March 2010, health experts met at a conference in Tallinn to map out future solutions to health financing in Estonia. WHO Regional Director Zsuzsanna Jakab and Minister of Social Affairs Hanno Pevkur addressed the conference. The report “Responding to the challenge of financial sustainability in Estonia’s health system” was launched during the conference.
• World Blood Donor Day, 14 June 2010
  22-05-2010
  World Blood Donor Day is an international event celebrated on 14 June every year to thank regular blood donors, increase awareness of the need for blood donations; and encourage more people to give blood. World Blood Donor Day 2010 will focus on young donors with the slogan “New blood for the world”. As the need for blood increases globally, young people can make an important contribution by donating blood and by recruiting others to do so.
• International Nurses Day, 12 May 2010
  22-05-2010
  International Nurses Day (IND) is held around the world every 12 May. This day is celebrated to remember all of the valuable contributions nurses make to society and commemorates the birth of Florence Nightingale. The theme for 2010 is Delivering Quality, Serving Communities: Nurses Leading Chronic Care.
• Health Worker Migration Global Policy Advisory Council Meeting/ Interregional Forum on Health Worker Migration in Madrid, Spain, 9-11 May 2010
  22-05-2010
  This meeting provided an important and creative platform for forward-thinking and solutions-oriented dialogue on the critical issue of health worker migration and came at an opportune time, preceding the 63rd Session of the World Health Assembly where the WHO Code of Practice was addressed.
• Latest Eurohealth publication featuring an article by WHO/Europe's new Regional Director, April 2010
  22-05-2010
  Features an article by the new World Health Organization Regional Director for Europe, Zsuzsanna Jakab, who set out her vision of the way forward for the WHO Regional Office.
• World Health Day, 7 April 2010
  22-05-2010
  This year's World Health Day, held on 7 April 2010, focused on urbanization and health. With the campaign "1000 cities - 1000 lives", events were organized worldwide calling on cities to open up streets for health activities. Stories of urban health champions were gathered to illustrate what people are doing to improve health in their cities.
• 14th International Conference of Drug Regulatory Authorities (ICDRA), 30 November - 3 December 2010, Singapore
  22-05-2010
  ICDRA provides drug regulatory authorities of WHO Member States with a forum to meet and discuss ways to strengthen collaboration, to harmonize regulation and improve the safety, efficacy and quality of medicines globally. The 14th conference will take place from 30 November - 3 December 2010 in Singapore and will provide opportunities for drug regulators and interested stakeholders to share and discuss current and topical issues of global concern, for example, the H1N1 influenza situation, counterfeit medicines and access to quality drugs. 
• First Croatian Congress on Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research, 22-24 April 2010
  22-05-2010
  The first Croatian Congress on Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research
• Call for papers now open for the Third International Conference on Improving Use of Medicines (ICIUM), 10-14 April 2011, Alexandria, Egypt
  22-05-2010
  Experts, policy makers and other members of the international community will gather in April 2011 to present knowledge on ways to improve medicines use and health, especially for vulnerable populations. They will also shape recommendations and a future research agenda on these topics.
• International Course on Strategic Planning for Human Resources for Health, Kyiv, Ukraine, 24-28 May 2010
  22-05-2010
  This course has been designed for experienced, senior public health officials and staff who are involved in managing and developing policy and strategies for human resources for health.
• WHO team reports on the importance and quality of one of Europe’s leading patient information websites (the German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care)
  22-05-2010
  In 2008 Germany’s Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) - an independent scientific body established under the 2004 national health reform legislation - invited the WHO to evaluate the methods it uses for developing patient information, as well as the information’s quality and accuracy. The final report contains a series of recommendations on how IQWiG could develop this programme and strengthen its role as a leading producer of patient-centred and evidence-based health information.
• Meeting of Global Forum of Government Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officers, 12-13 May 2010
  22-05-2010
  During this meeting of the Global Forum, a new initiative was launched called the global government chief nursing and midwifery officers leadership collaborative (GLC). Its purpose is to enhance the effectiveness of nurses and midwives in promoting and improving population health in Member States. A chief part of its mission will be to strengthen nursing and midwifery leadership capacity, particularly that of chief nurse and midwifery officers, in supporting health systems development.
• 14th Annual Meeting of the European Forum of National Nursing and Midwifery Associations and WHO, 29-30 April 2010
  22-05-2010
  This meeting focused on the presentation of two documents: 1. Nurses and Midwives: A Force for Health - Survey on the situation of Nursing and Midwifery in the Member States of the European Region of the World Health Organization 2009, conducted between December 2008 and March 2009 2. The draft follow-up strategic document: 10 Years after the Munich Declaration - Strategic directions for moving forward from 2010-2015 for Nursing and Midwifery in the Member States of the European Region of the World Health Organization
• New WHO publications on primary care in Ukraine and Serbia
  22-05-2010
   Evaluation reports on primary care in Serbia and Ukraine will be launched in spring 2010. WHO/Europe held final validation meetings with stakeholders in December 2009 and March 2010 to discuss draft results and outcomes of the evaluation.
• Health System Performance Assessments for Azerbaijan and Estonia to be released shortly
  22-05-2010
  Following the recent releases of Health System Performance Assessments (HSPA) for Armenia, Georgia and Portugal, the WHO Regional Office for Europe and the respective Ministries of Health have collaborated on the development and implementation of HSPAs for Azerbaijan and Estonia. These are expected to be released later this year.
• 18th International Conference on Health Promoting Hospitals and Health Services, 12-16 April 2010
  22-05-2010
  Tackling Causes and Consequences of Inequalities in Health: Contributions of Health Services and the Health Promoting Hospitals Network.
• WHO Primary Care Evaluation Tool (PCET) workshop, Bratislava, Slovakia, 14-15 April 2010
  22-05-2010
  A WHO Primary Care Evaluation Tool (PCET) workshop took place in Bratislava, Slovakia on 14-15 April 2010.
• Portugal surpasses performance of the EU-15 group on 11 key health performance indicators
  22-05-2010
  National Health Plan indicators either reached target or on track.