European Health Forum Gastein
Health and Sustainable Development
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Bold political choices for Agenda 2030
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3-5 October, 2018
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SEEHN delegation supported by European Health Forum Gastein (EHFG) SEEHN Partner, had the honor and opportunity, to attend leading Forum discussions in the area of health policy in Europe.
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This year the topic “Health and Sustainable Development” highlighted the importance of constantly developing healthcare systems in the EU countries.
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SEEHN delegation represented by Dr Danijela Urosevic, SEEHN Chair of the Executive Committee, Assistant Minister, Sector of International Cooperation and European Integration, Ministry of Health (MOH) Republic of Serbia, Dr. Angel Kunchev, SEEHN National Health Coordinator (NHC), Chief State Health Inspector, Bulgaria, Dr. Vladimir Milosev, SEEHN NHC, State Secretary, MOH, Republic of Macedonia, Mr. Nikola Antovic, SEEHN NHC and member of the SEEHN Executive Committee, Secretary General, MOH Montenegro, attended the Forum and the Capacity Building Workshop for Policy Makers. For the first time EHFG as a partner organized a satellite event dedicated to the SEE Region and Priorities.
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From the perspective of SEE countries, SEEHN delegates found comprehensive and interesting the sessions dedicated to the high level priorities for all countries, such as Vaccines for all, Setting priorities for public health, Workforce for the primary health care, Innovative medicines for the good of all, Improving cancer care, etc.
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During all these sessions, including the Plenary, SEEHN delegates had opportunity to contribute, to exchange points of view with colleagues and experts all across Europe, and to discuss the next steps, that can be implemented in their national health systems.
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Dr Tatiana Paduraru, SEEHN Technical Officer, participated among other 35 young professionals in a Hackathon – a new tool organized for the first time within EHFG. The hackathon aimed to identify innovative solutions to tackle misuse of alcohol within young populations.
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At the EHFG Romania has been extensively represented at all levels, especially in presenting the forthcoming EU Presidency agenda. One topic on eHealth achievements and future plans was particularly covered by the Director a.I., National Health Insurance House, Dr. Razvan Vulcanescu, former SEEHN NHC and Member of the SEEHN Executive Board.
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EHFG offered the opportunity to the SEEHN as an important regional public health actor, to foster dialogue among experts and to contribute to the future substantial improvements in all the member states.
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THE 6th REGIONAL EUROPEAN SAFE COMMUNITY CONFERENCE
ACHIEVING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS – TOWARDS VIOLENCE FREE COMMUNITY
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Skopje, Republic of Macedonia 3-5th October 2018
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SEEHN supporting European Safe Community Network (ESCON) as partner to the Conference
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ESCON aims at strengthening existing International Safe Communities in Europe and promotion of the formation of new communities to be accepted into the Safecom movement towards Violence Free Community achieving Sustainable Development Goals.
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Injuries and violence are a major public health burden across the globe. The Global Burden of Disease Studies has documented unfair distribution of violence and injury by socioeconomic strata in Europe. This gradient, existing within and between countries, must be addressed. Experts in injury prevention and safety promotion recognize the need for action and practice and consistently applying to policies and programs in the field.
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ESCON is working against public indifference towards the burden of violence and injury and promoting safe community and community based interventions against violence and injury.
nAddress by Dr Mira Jovanovski Dasic within the opening session at the 6th European Safe Communities Conference Skopje, 3 October 2018nn Your excellences,nDistinguished guests,nDear colleagues,nLadies and gentlemen n
It is my great pleasure to address you in the capacity of the Director of the SEEHN Secretariat and Partner in the organization of this Conference. South Eastern European Health Network includes the following 9 countries: Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the State of Israel, Republic of Moldova, Montenegro, the Republic of Macedonia, Romania and the Republic of Serbia.
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All 9 countries of the SEE Health Network at some point in the recent history have faced conflicts and participation to this Conference as a partner will bring not only first-hand experience but also innovative solutions and important practical guidance. SEEHN is providing support to its Member States to achieve Sustainable Development Goals and I am proud to state that all SEEHN Member States are developing and implementing national health policies aligned with Health 2020, committing to inter-sectoral government policies towards achieving the 2030 Agenda.
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The theme of this Conference “Achieving Sustainable Development Goals – Towards Violence Free Community”, is of outmost importance and targets our basic instinct of security in the hostile times we are living today. We all want to live safely in our communities and I wish us all during the following days to focus on finding new ideas, exchange good practices and experiences to come up with prerequisites on how to deal with this challenge and to make safer our neighbourhood and ultimately the world.
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We all witness how one event on one continent can impact another or globally and consequently the global contest becomes common all over the world. SEE countries share geographic, demographic, economic and political specificities and thus face similar challenges, such as:
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- political turbulences, frequent governmental changes undermining the implementation of reforms and resulting in lack of continuity
- economic constraints
- less public health oriented services
- inequities
- migration and refugees challenge
- climate change etc.
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Therefore, I must highlight how complex this issue is and what factors can contribute towards achieving Violence Free Community – starting with safe water supply, violence free families, prevention of violence among young people, children abuse, injury prevention, suicide prevention, safety of the elderly, safety at work, in the transport, at school, public spaces and our homes.
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The mentioned aspects of safe communities and violence prevention prerequisites make us aware that there are no universal and unique recipes and approaches, so, we need adjusted solutions, more efficient and integrated approach. Health systems play a crucial role and have direct involvement in many aspects in terms of safe communities and it should be reflected on providing services more efficiently and less costly to ensure health services of high quality, with patient safety at their core.
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I am very happy to join you, representing SEEHN as partner, and personally, because safety is the condition sine qua non for daily activity and development for a society. That is why Safe Communities Conference is a very useful platform for us to share, discuss and exchange experiences.
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In the light of the above mentioned, I would like to thank in advance the participants of the 6th European Safe Communities Conference, for the contributions and remind that they will have responsibility to spread this knowledge for achieving the aim of Violence Free Communities more efficiently.
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Wishing you fruitful discussions I thank you for your kind attention.
