Sofia, Bulgaria—10 April 2025—The South Eastern Europe Health Network (SEEHN), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Bulgaria, successfully concluded a high-level expert meeting today on the theme “Towards Universal Health Coverage—Give Health an e-Chance!”

The meeting brought together representatives from SEEHN Member States, digital health leaders, policymakers, and regional experts in Sofia to explore the transformative role of digital health in strengthening health systems and accelerating progress towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

The event featured national case studies and shared experiences from Bulgaria, Israel, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, and Serbia. The Bulgarian Ministry of Health presented the country’s advancements in digital health infrastructure, including integrating health information systems and digital transformation strategies.

Ms Dobromira Kareva Deputy Minister of Health, represented Minister Assoc. Prof. Silvi Kirilov, MD, Ministry of Health of the Republic of Bulgaria, and highlighted on his behalf that:” the process of introducing e-Health require serious efforts, as well as active cooperation between individual institutions and countries, with a view to building sustainable, accessible and patient-oriented health systems…”

In her opening remarks, Dr. Tatiana Paduraru, Acting Head of the SEEHN Secretariat, emphasized the importance of building regional capacity and policy coherence to ensure digital health contributes effectively to accessibility, efficiency, and resilience in healthcare.

Key discussions focused on:

• Interoperability of health systems across borders;
• Alignment with the European Health Data Space (EHDS);
• Policy frameworks that support the ethical and secure exchange of health data;
• Strengthening digital health governance and innovation ecosystems.

The closing session, led by Professor Immanuel Azaad Moonesar R.D. of the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government, showcased global perspectives and valuable policy lessons from the UAE on regional digital health integration.

This expert meeting was vital in fostering cross-border collaboration and shaping a shared digital health vision for the SEEHN region. Participants jointly identified strategic priorities for regional cooperation, including interoperability, cybersecurity, and capacity-building.

SEEHN remains committed to supporting its Member States in harnessing the power of digital technologies to improve health outcomes and equity across Southeastern Europe.