"We need to build joint pathways
in such an important and priority area as the Western Balkans,
pathways of health systems reform with a view related less to
hospital care and more to territorial care." This is how Gian
Matteo Apuzzo, a member of the WHO European Center for Primary
Health Care, explained the goal of the workshop underway at the
headquarters of the Central European Initiative (CEI) in
Trieste, focusing on the transfer of knowledge on primary care
models in the Western Balkans, concerning the organization of
services and health personnel.
"This meeting is promoted by CEI and the WHO Europe primary
care office - Apuzzo recalled - together, we are building a
model of care that is even closer to the citizens, that can
respond to the needs of the territories, with shared principles,
but with an application very centered on the peculiar needs of
each region. Some good practices will be acquired from the
Italian health care system, taking into account - Apuzzo
underlined - that the territorial system in Italy, particularly
in some regions, such as Friuli Venezia Giulia, is undoubtedly a
good example."
"A response has also to be given to chronic diseases - he
added - because we have solid expertise in responding to the
aging population in Italy. Another aspect concerns mental
health: the Balkans can consider our systems and services as
good practice, and this area is already doing that."
During the meeting, experts will work "on one of the main
tools of WHO Europe, the so-called roadmap for the Western
Balkans until 2025 - Apuzzo said - we are about halfway there.
This event, just like others we are organizing, aims to build
the last part of a joint pathway, leading to strengthening
assistance first. We will gather input from this meeting to plan
the next two-year roadmap."
"We are happy to host this three day event in Trieste,
dedicated to primary health care in the Western Balkans, which
is a result of the consolidated collaboration between WHO
Regional Office for Europe and the CEI - said Nina Kodelja, CEI
deputy secretary. "The partnership between CEI and WHO is
growing stronger, starting from the setting up of a joint task
force, which was composed of key health officials, in response
to Covid 19 emergency, to specific joint activities such as this
meeting in Trieste, co-organised by the two organisations", she
added.
More than 30 participants from the whole Western Balkans region,
WHO representatives, specialists etc. will exchange best
practices and discuss common problems in the sphere of primary
health care, and we hope they can identify common approaches and
policy recommendations for the future. This event is relevant
both for the implementation of the general mission of the CEI,
namely the European integration process, as also for the
implementation of the WHO Roadmap for the Health and Well-being
in the Western Balkans, which is also intended to narrow the gap
between EU and the Western Balkans in the area of health
policies, and which was endorsed at the margins of the CEI
summit in 2021.
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