As the global COVID-19 pandemic has hit the world, the CEI has addressed all its resources to support the communities in its Member States. We at the Secretariat launched targeted grant opportunities, initiated new collaborations with key players in the health sector, and established a dedicated Task Force. At the same time, we have kept up with our ongoing projects aimed at providing innovative health and care solutions to aging populations. Overall, a focus on health has been an all-embracing feature of our operations throughout the past months and will continue to be present for future needs. Our three-fold action consists of a multilateral partnership, a bottom-up approach, and EU funds for CEI projects.
CEI-WHO Task Force in response to COVID-19
![]() |
In early May 2020, the CEI-ES and WHO regional Office for Europe joined efforts by setting up a Task Force composed of key health officials from CEI Member States to respond to COVID-19. The Task Force provides a platform for the timely exchange of information and coordination in the CEI-wide region. |
- Related articles
-
How to ensure essential healthcare services whilst responding to the COVID-19 emergency was the focus of today’s webinar, organised with WHO Europe in the context of the CEI-WHO T
In light of the growing number of infected cases and spread of the pandemic, the CEI-WHO designated Task Force (TF) in response to COVID-19 met on 28 October to discuss testing capacities, instruments and solutions adopted in the CEI Member States.
-
Wed, 14/10/2020 - CEI-WHO from guidance to action: stepping up infection prevention and control in healthcare settings
No country or health system, even the most developed or sophisticated, can claim to be free of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).
- Fri, 02/10/2020 - Challenges, lessons learned and preparedness: CEI-WHO on the way forward
“Will we ever be able to be prepared for a pandemic?” This was the theme of the 7th meeting of the CEI-WHO Task Force in response to COVID-19 emergency held on 30 September.
- Mon, 14/09/2020 - CEI-WHO Task Force resumes briefings with safe school reopening at heart of meeting
Increasing coordination on measures for safe school reopening was the main topic tackled during an e-meeting held in the framework of the
The CEI and the WHO converged in an e-meeting focused on the key theme of the European Programme of Work of the WHO Regional Office
- Thu, 25/06/2020 - CEI-WHO meetings take stock of new development around COVID-19 pandemic
The CEI-WHO Joint Task Force remains dedicated to following the COVID-19 situation and evaluating the transition criteria CEI-wide. Under this perspective, the third and fourth designated e-meetings, which took place on 10 June and 24 June respectively, delved into thematic sessions touching upon the WHO health emergency program, the transition criteria, and surveillance systems.
- Mon, 25/05/2020 - CEI-WHO second Task Force meeting considers optimal transition approach in CEI countries
The health experts engaged in the joint CEI-WHO Task Force meeting held on May 20 discussed the latest information on the development of COVID-19 outbreak in the CEI region and tabled options to bring it under control in the transition phase.
- Thu, 07/05/2020 - CEI and WHO kickstart Task Force to counter COVID-19
The CEI- Executive Secretariat (CEI-ES) and the WHO Regional Office for Europe have joined efforts by setting up a functioning Task Force composed of key health officials from CEI Member States to respond to the COVID-19.
-
COVID-19 Extraordinary Call for Proposals
Following the launch of the Extraordinary Call for Proposals, we received over 7000 submissions. 22 applications made it to the final round with 19 of them covering health-related proposals.
- Ongoing activities
-
Title of Project Applicant Country Others countries involved Strengthening capacities of nurses - front line healthcare workers during the COVID-19 response; Strong nurses for strong health systems and a healthier world. SEEHN Secretariat Albania; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Moldova; Montenegro; North Macedonia; Serbia Distance learning on epidemic and pandemic outbreaks in Western Balkans: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia. Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS) Italy Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia. Distance Learning on epidemic and pandemic outbreaks in Eastern Balkans: Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS) Italy Belarus, Moldova, Ukraine E-learning Platform for people with disability Help the life Association Albania SOS Covid Emergency – protecting mental health and psychosocial wellbeing of adults and minors during social distancing in Italy and Serbia SOS Children’s villages Italy and Serbia Italy; Serbia Support to the health operators in piloting telemedicine and tackle COVID-19 spread in Moldova (TeleM) Homecare" Association Moldova Teleconsultations for doctors and nurses, a quick guide webinar series – TelCoDoc Technology Park Ljubljana Ltd. Slovenia Bosnia and Herzegovina; Croatia; Montenegro; North Macedonia; Serbia. STOP COVID 19 Lviv Polytechnic National University and Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University; Belarus State Economic University Belarus; Ukraine. Dissemination of the Knowledge on Application of Ionising Radiation for Sterilization of Medical Equipment, Personal Protection Equipment and the other Microbiologically Infected Objects Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology (INCT) Poland Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine. Protecting mental health and psychosocial wellbeing in a time of unprecedented crisis. Bulgarian Society of Group Analysis and Group Processes Bulgaria Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine. STEMI – COVID-19 Telemedicine triage tool to protect hospital staff STEMI Global Slovakia Bosnia and Herzegovina; Croatia; Montenegro; North Macedonia; Serbia; Slovenia. Healthcare online (HERO) Rudjer Boskovic Institute Croatia Italy; Ukraine. Use of Regressive Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) Methods in Modelling of COVID-19 spread - COVIDAi University of Kragujevac Serbia Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine. Improving COVID-19 Reporting (ICR) Transitions Czech Republic Belarus; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Croatia; Moldova; Montenegro; Serbia; Ukraine Hospital at home in the field of chronic wound management during the COVID-19 pandemic in Romania and Moldova Association Caritas Alba Iulia- Medical and Social Assistance Romania Moldova, Romania National Telemedicine Platform Institute of Public Health / Montenegro ShareIT Platform – Sharing of relevant electronic IT experience, data, knowledge, trainings, webinars, offer and demand via new Platform Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Srpska Bosnia and Herzegovina Croatia; Italy; Montenegro; Serbia; Slovenia Portal implementation for sharing information about PPE manufacturers and telemedicine providers at benefit of local institutions in non EU CEI Member States who deals procurement for hospitals, and Transfer of best practice and tools for fighting Covid19 sanitary emergency. INFORMEST CONSULTING SRL Italy Albania; Bosnia and Herzegovina; North Macedonia; Serbia; Ukraine. Interactive webinars to accelerate the shift to digital innovation in Albanian health - WebinHealth Lepida SCPA Italy Albania
- Related articles
-
-
Mon, 16/11/2020 CEI-funded project strengthens capacities of frontline healthcare workers in South-Eastern Europe
The South-Eastern Europe Health Network (SEEHN) Secretariat, a beneficiary of the CEI COVID-19 Extraordinary Call for Proposals, has unrolled the project
Read more - Thu, 22/10/2020 Innovative companies from CEI Member States meet on PPE HEALTH PORTAL
Businesses and partners from Albania, Italy, Poland and Ukraine, met on 20 October in a webinar focused on the exchange of knowledge and the promotion of innovative products for countering the current health emergency.
- Fri, 09/10/2020 Italian Health Institute sets two new CEI projects into motion
The Italian Health Institute (Istituto Superiore di Sanità – ISS), has recently kicked off two projects financed by Italy in the framework of the CEI COVID-19 Extraordinary Call for Proposals. Both actions will implement activities on Distance Learning on Epidemics and Pandemic outbreaks. One will target the countries of the Western Balkans and the other will target Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine.
-
EU-funded Projects
![]() |
Digital Health Europe is funded under the Horizon 2020 Programme and aims at supporting large-scale deployment of digital solutions for person-centered integrated care. More here. |
![]() |
ITHACA funded under the Interreg EUROPE programme, aims at enhancing the efficiency of regional ecosystems by supporting the development of efefctive and inniovative health-related solutions for an active and healthy aging population. More here. |
![]() |
ACSELL funded under the Interreg Europe Programme through the European Regional Development Fund, aims at accelerating SME innovation capacities following the living lab approach. Access to smart, integrated interregional policy instruments, a vibrant ecosystem and relevant competencies will pave the way towards demand-driven and effective and efficient innovation. More here. |
![]() |
T.A.A.F.E is funded by the Interreg ALPINE SPACE Programme. A growing ageing population and an increasing number of isolated elderly people demand new approaches and political commitment. To this end, the WHO has developed the concept of sustainable age-friendly environments (AFE), using an integrative approach to optimise social and physical environments and promote active, healthy ageing and participation in society. More here. |
Related news
The third online workshop in the framework of the ACSELL project was held on 19 April. It focused on Business support services in the field of Open Innovation.
In the framework of the ACSELL project, the CEI-Executive Secretariat and the Technology Park Ljubljana established a twinning to