Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia | 21–22 May 2026

The South-Eastern Europe Health Network (SEEHN) co-organized the 2nd Public Health Conference and the 2nd HSG Europe Preconference, held in Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia, bringing together approximately 100 participants, including academics, researchers, policymakers, public health professionals, students, and health systems experts from the region and beyond, who participated both in person and online.

Organized by the Center–School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Skopje, and the Ministry of Health of the Republic of North Macedonia, together with institutional partners including SEEHN, the Conference served as a regional platform to advance dialogue on the future of public health and health systems research in a rapidly evolving global environment.

Held under the overarching theme “Building Evidence-Based Resilient Health Systems in a Changing Europe,” the Conference contributed to ongoing reflections ahead of the 9th Global Symposium on Health Systems Research (HSR2026) and marked the School of Public Health’s forthcoming 25th anniversary.

The two-day program explored critical policy and systems dimensions, including governance, financing, diplomacy, partnerships, digital transformation, participation, human capital, and health workforce resilience, reaffirming the importance of integrated and collaborative approaches to strengthening health systems.

In her opening remarks, Dr. Tatiana Păduraru, Head of SEEHN, underscored the value of regional cooperation, multi-stakeholder dialogue, and stronger linkages among policy, practice, and health workforce development to build resilient and sustainable health systems.

SEEHN contributions throughout the Conference highlighted the growing importance of reinforcing the interface between research, academia and policymaking, emphasizing the role of evidence-informed and science-based decision making in responding to increasingly complex public health challenges.

In this context, reference was made to the spirit of this year’s World Health Day, which reiterated the importance of science, knowledge generation, and academic engagement as essential foundations for effective health governance and resilient health systems.

As part of its continued commitment to regional cooperation, knowledge exchange and capacity strengthening, SEEHN supported participation through a dedicated scholarship mechanism for Member States representatives, enabling contributions SEEHN from Albania, Bulgaria, Republic of Moldova, Montenegro, Romania and Serbia, reinforcing regional collaboration and knowledge exchange. SEEHN-supported participants contributed to thematic discussions on regional governance, health systems resilience, digital health, workforce development, public health education, and policy integration.

The Conference reaffirmed that strengthening the translation of research into policy and practice, fostering regional partnerships, and investing in human capital are key enablers of resilient, equitable, and future-oriented health systems.

SEEHN remains committed to supporting regional dialogue, collaborative action, and evidence-based approaches that strengthen health systems and improve health outcomes across South-Eastern Europe.

Skopje / Regional – 12 May 2026

On the occasion of International Nurses Day, annually observed on 12 May, the South-Eastern Europe Health Network (SEEHN) joins the global community in recognizing the invaluable contributions of nurses and midwives to health systems and societies.

This year’s theme, launched by the International Council of Nurses — “Our Nurses. Our Future. Empowered Nurses Save Lives” — underscores the urgent need to move beyond recognition toward meaningful investment and structural support for the nursing workforce.

SEEHN strongly echoes this call, reaffirming its sustained commitment to supporting the development of a well-prepared, resilient, and empowered health workforce across South-Eastern Europe.

In April 2026, SEEHN, in cooperation with RHDC on Nursing and Midwifery and the Romanian Order of Nurses and Midwives, convened a regional seminar in Bucharest titled “Strengthening Health Workforce Capacity through Trauma-Informed Care as a System Competency.” The event brought together representatives from across the region to explore how trauma-informed approaches can be embedded at system level, supporting both patient care and workforce wellbeing.

The discussions highlighted the importance of leadership, safe working environments, and continuous professional development as key pillars for strengthening health systems. In this context, SEEHN has also initiated discussions on future collaboration with the WHO Collaborating Centre for Leadership and Governance in Nursing, exploring concrete pathways to further support leadership development and workforce capacity in the region.

SEEHN remains committed to advancing regional cooperation and facilitating knowledge exchange among its Member States, with a continued focus on:

• Investing in education and training systems for nurses and midwives;
• Promoting leadership and professional empowerment;
• Supporting safe and enabling working environments;
• Strengthening the voice of nurses in health policy and decision-making processes.

As SEEHN approaches its 25th anniversary, the Network reiterates that investing in nurses is not only a health priority, but a strategic imperative for resilient, equitable, and sustainable health systems