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.

TECHNICAL REPORT ON REGIONAL HEALTH DEVELOPMENT CENTER FOR NCDS TECHNICAL MEETING “NCDS POPULATION-BASED SURVEYS IN THE SEEHN MEMBER STATES”

Podgorica, Montenegro – 25 March 2025

The Acting Director of the South-Eastern Europe Health Network (SEEHN) Secretariat, Dr. Tatiana Paduraru, met with the Director of the Institute of Public Health of Montenegro (IPH Montenegro), Dr. Snežana Barjaktarević Labović, to discuss joint efforts in tackling non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and strengthening cancer screening programs across the region.

With NCDs accounting for approximately 95% of overall mortality in the SEE region, both parties underscored the urgent need for coordinated national and regional action. Prevention remains a cornerstone of this effort, as studies show that every dollar invested in prevention yields a sevenfold return within five to seven years. The discussion focused on identifying effective strategies to integrate prevention programs into national health systems while reinforcing regional collaboration.

Another key topic of the meeting was capacity building for Montenegro’s national team on breast and cervical cancer screening programs. The discussion explored ways to enhance expertise and best practice sharing, including a potential study visit to Slovenia, a SEEHN member state with advanced screening protocols. This initiative aims to strengthen Montenegro’s screening strategies and improve early detection and treatment outcomes.

The SEEHN Secretariat and IPH Montenegro reaffirmed their commitment to advancing regional public health priorities and fostering cross-border cooperation to improve health outcomes for all SEE citizens.