On 17 September in Podgorica, Dr. Tatiana Paduraru, Director of the SEEHN Secretariat, met with Dr. Mirjana Vlahović-Andirjasević, SEEHN National Health Coordinator and State Secretary at the Ministry of Health of Montenegro.
Dr. Paduraru provided an overview of the current state of the SEE Health Network and upcoming priorities under the Presidency of Israel, focusing on strengthening health system resilience through better emergency preparedness, advancing digital health solutions, empowering health professionals, and addressing the health financing gap linked to ageing populations. She also underlined the Secretariat’s vital role as the main engine of administrative and technical support for SEEHN activities.
The discussion placed particular emphasis on the role of SEEHN’s Regional Health Development Centers (RHDCs) as the primary vehicles for technical expertise, with special attention to the RHDC on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) hosted by the Institute of Public Health of Montenegro.
Dr. Vlahović-Andirjasević expressed appreciation for the close cooperation with the Secretariat and highlighted the importance of the RHDCs, both in the past and for the future. She suggested exploring new joint activities, particularly in cancer screening across SEEHN Member States, while reaffirming Montenegro’s commitment to supporting the RHDC on NCDs.
Both sides agreed on the importance of strengthening collaboration and exploring further opportunities to enhance the Network’s work and other public health initiatives of regional relevance.
