The CEI-Executive Secretariat has recently virtually participated in the 72nd session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe held in Tel Aviv, Israel on 12-14 September.
The event gathered Health Ministers and high-level representatives of the 53 Member States of the WHO European Region—and partner organisations and civil society—to reflect on progress made so far and further steps needed to implement the European Programme of Work (EPW) 2020–2025 – “United Action for Better Health in Europe”. Special attention was paid to the EPW’s contribution to advancing health and well-being at the country level; on the main challenges for public health in the Region, ongoing health emergencies, as well as on opportunities for closer subregional and inter-regional collaboration.
In this context, Deputy Secretary General Nina Kodelja reasserted the CEI’s commitment to strengthen its partnership with the WHO, emphasising the importance of working in synergy with other regional/sub-regional organisations - especially on specific focus topics such as primary health care, mental health, digital health, and the crucial role of youth. To this end, she underlined that the CEI-Executive Secretariat was thus ready to support the WHO/Europe's Regional digital health action plan (2023-2030) in order to leverage and scale up countries’ digital transformation for better health.
WHO Regional Office for Europe’s Director Hans Kluge - in his opening address - also underlined the crucial role sub-regional partnerships played to respond to health emergencies whilst making progress to improve health outcomes and achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
For more info: apuzzo@cei.int