Chișinău, Republic of Moldova – 13 August 2026
The Director of the South-Eastern Europe Health Network (SEEHN) Secretariat, Dr Tatiana Păduraru, held a meeting on 13 August 2026 with Dr Alexandru Gasnaș, Minister of Health of the Republic of Moldova, to discuss Moldova’s continued engagement in SEEHN and opportunities to further strengthen regional cooperation in health.
The meeting was also attended by Dr Svetlana Nicolaescu, Deputy State Secretary General of the Ministry of Health and SEEHN National Health Coordinator (NHC), as well as a co-opted member of the SEEHN Executive Committee. Her involvement is crucial to ensure the institutional bridge between the Ministry and SEEHN, and institutional memory and expertise while she has already served as Moldova’s SEEHN NHC and as Chair of the SEEHN Executive Committee.
The discussions focused on the strategic role of SEEHN as a platform for intergovernmental cooperation, policy dialogue and exchange of experience among the countries of South-Eastern Europe. Particular attention was given to ensuring the continued active engagement of the Republic of Moldova in the Network and to further strengthening the link between SEEHN’s regional agenda and national health priorities.
Dr Păduraru presented the current priorities and ongoing work of the SEEHN Secretariat, including the development of the Network’s next strategic framework- the Bucharest Pledge and the Action Plan, strengthening the role and visibility of the Regional Health Development Centres (RHDCs), health workforce development, digital health, emergency preparedness, noncommunicable diseases, mental health, healthy ageing and other areas of shared regional importance.
The meeting also provided an opportunity to discuss the role of SEEHN in facilitating peer learning and policy exchange between Member States, including through technical initiatives, regional projects, high-level policy dialogue and the annual SEEHN Plenary Meeting, which brings together political and technical representatives of the Network’s Member States.
Dr Păduraru highlighted the importance of Moldova’s active contribution to SEEHN’s work and welcomed the opportunity to further engage the Ministry of Health in shaping the Network’s future priorities.
Minister Gasnaș reaffirmed the importance of regional cooperation and the value of SEEHN as a platform for sharing experience, strengthening institutional capacities and promoting coordinated approaches to common health challenges.
As SEEHN enters a new phase with the start of the Romanian Presidency on 1 July 2026, the meeting also provided an opportunity to look ahead to the Network’s priorities and activities for the coming period.
The SEEHN Secretariat looks forward to continuing its close cooperation with the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Moldova and to supporting Moldova’s active participation in the Network’s governance, technical initiatives and regional policy dialogue.
