Podgorica, Montenegro—On 25 and 26 March 2025, SEEHN organized a technical meeting in Podgorica on NCD Population-Based Surveys in the South-Eastern Europe Health Network (SEEHN) Member States.
Hosted by the Institute of Public Health of Montenegro, the initiative reinforced the region’s dedication to enhancing non-communicable disease (NCD) surveillance and fostering data-driven public health policies. The event provided a platform for collaboration and knowledge exchange with representatives from SEEHN Member States, public health experts, and key international partners—including the WHO Regional Office for Europe.
Among the distinguished speakers and moderators were:
- Dr. Snežana Barjaktarević Labović, Acting Director, Institute of Public Health of Montenegro
- Dr. Tatiana Paduraru, Acting Director, SEEHN Secretariat
- Dr. Ivana Zivkovic, General Director, Directorate for Public Health, Ministry of Health, Montenegro
- Dr. Ivo Rakovac, Regional Adviser on NCD Surveillance, WHO Regional Office for Europe
- Experts from various SEEHN Member States presenting country-specific experiences
Over two days, participants engaged in plenary discussions, roundtable sessions, and country presentations, covering critical topics such as:
- Best practices and challenges in conducting NCD population-based surveys
- Financial and sustainability models for long-term NCD surveillance
- Using survey data for policy development and health system transformation
- Strengthening regional collaboration and aligning with WHO standards
The meeting fostered a dynamic dialogue to address NCD data collection, standardization, sustainability, and policy utilization challenges.
By sharing insights and experiences, participants explored opportunities to create a more effective and harmonized approach to NCD surveillance across the region. The meeting also outlined several key outcomes, including developing actionable recommendations for sustainable NCD data collection and the need to support SEEHN Member States in aligning with WHO guidelines to close the gap with other European countries.
The conclusions drawn from this meeting will serve as a roadmap for SEEHN Member States, guiding them toward more robust NCD data systems and evidence-based policy approaches. With continued collaboration, these efforts are expected to enhance public health strategies and outcomes in the region significantly.