Chisinau, 7 August 2025 – A high-level bilateral meeting was held today between Dr. Tatiana Paduraru, Director of the South-Eastern Europe Health Network (SEEHN) Secretariat, and Dr. Ala Nemerenco, Minister of Health of the Republic of Moldova, marking an important milestone in advancing regional health cooperation.

The discussions centred on Moldova’s upcoming Presidency of SEEHN, set to begin next year, following the current Israeli Presidency. The key strategic priorities to be pursued outlined her vision focusing on:

– Strengthening human resources in health, with special emphasis on the health workforce—recruitment, retention, and professional development.

– Upgrading infrastructure through hospital endowment and modernization to ensure equitable access to quality health services.

– Enhancing the quality of care across the SEEHN member states through evidence-based standards and continuous improvement.

Both parties also commended Moldova’s leading role in tobacco cessation policies and programmes, reaffirming the country’s commitment to spearheading regional efforts in reducing tobacco consumption and its health impact.

An important point on the agenda was the development of a regional initiative to advance knowledge and expertise on EU negotiations and implementation in the health sector. This initiative aims to provide SEEHN countries with targeted capacity-building, knowledge exchange, and best practices to align more effectively with EU health standards and policies.

The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to strengthen multilateral action, foster solidarity among SEEHN members, and work towards better health outcomes for the populations of South-East Europe.

📍Bucharest – July 30, 2025 –  A high-level bilateral meeting took place yesterday between the Minister of Health of Romania, Dr Alexandru-Florin Rogobete, and Dr Tatiana Paduraru, Head of the SEEHN Secretariat. The purpose of the meeting was to deepen collaboration on key healthcare priorities and to explore new opportunities for joint initiatives in public health, medical innovation, and health workforce development.
Discussions covered a broad range of topics, including:

– Strengthening emergency preparedness and response capacities, – Promoting health equity and reducing regional disparities,
– Advancing digital health and data interoperability initiatives,
– Supporting workforce training and medical education exchanges.

Both sides reiterated their shared commitment to building resilient health systems and improving population health outcomes. In particular, the Romanian Ministry of Health presented updates on national reforms aligned with EU health strategies, while counterparts highlighted support frameworks for cooperation in both bilateral and multilateral contexts.

The meeting concluded with agreements on strategic role of Romania shall play within the SEEHN in the next five years and potential hosting the next SEEHN Ministerial Forum 2027; to develop and establish a regional hub on digital health to be hosted by Romania, identify project opportunities, and facilitate ongoing dialogue at both technical and ministerial levels.
In this sense: “We welcome this partnership as a vital step forward in creating a more integrated and responsive healthcare landscape, both nationally and across Europe,” said Minister Rogobete.

Dr Paduraru expressed gratitude for the fruitful discussions and concluded by highlighting that:
“Our shared vision of health for all can only be realized through cooperation, innovation, and mutual respect.”
This meeting reflects growing momentum for cross-border collaboration in healthcare, recognizing shared challenges and opportunities in meeting the evolving needs of citizens.

The South Eastern Europe Health Network (SEEHN), participated at a meeting organized by SECID, acting as SEEHN RHDC on CDC and key partners. National and regional health experts convened together to discuss how to reinforce pandemic preparedness and vaccine deployment capabilities across South Eastern Europe.
The meeting, titled “Establish Regional & Country Capacities for Vaccine Deployment & Pandemic Preparedness”, brought together representatives from SEEHN Member States—Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Kosovo*. Countries shared national experiences, identified common challenges, and designed pathways for joint regional action.
Opening remarks by Dr. Silvia Bino of SECID underscored the urgent need for proactive planning, drawing on lessons from COVID-19 and H1N1 pandemics. Ms. Amanda Bolster of TFGH highlighted the importance of early and strategic investments in vaccine deployment infrastructure to prevent catastrophic health and economic losses in future crises.
Country representatives presented national gaps and lessons learned, followed by dynamic group discussions that identified regional challenges solvable through cooperation. Participants explored regulatory challenges, supply chain bottlenecks, and the need for harmonized procurement processes.
Ms. Ulpiana Lama of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) emphasized the role of cross-sector collaboration in strengthening health security, while Ms. Vesna I. Arsova of the SEEHN Secretariat presented the SEEHN Regional Alliance as a vital platform for mobilizing political commitment and technical capacity in emergency preparedness.
The meeting concluded with a high-level panel discussion featuring SEEHN, SECID, RCC, and country stakeholders, addressing how regional initiatives can incorporate vaccine access, procurement, and deployment strategies.
As SEEHN transitions to a new presidency under the State of Israel, priorities for the 2025–2026 period include:
• Strengthening emergency preparedness and response capacities,
• Bridging the digital divide through regional action on digital health equity,
• Advancing nursing and midwifery leadership for resilient health systems.
This Vienna meeting reaffirmed SEEHN’s commitment to reducing health inequities, improving governance for health, and acting collectively to ensure timely, equitable vaccine access in future pandemics. Through sustained political will and coordinated regional efforts, SEEHN continues to build a safer, healthier future for all its Member States.