Arnoldas Jurgutis, ITA NDPHS Primary Health Care Expert Group NDPHS EXPERT GROUP ON PRIMARY HEALTH CARE Activities in 2008

PHC EG – role and objectives Promote general awareness concerning the role and significance of comprehensive community oriented PHC as one of the cornerstones of a well functioning health care system Objective of ND PHC work: improved public health through developing cost-effective PHC services, responding appropriately and equitably to the needs of the people

Main activities of PHC EG In 2007 it was elaborated a strategy which covers four working areas: WA 1: Framework for PHC EG functions WA 2: Production of thematic reports and situation analysis WA 3: Support to planning, implementation and monitoring of projects WA 4: PHC EG contribution to database and project pipeline activities as cross-cutting principles

WA 1: Framework for PHC EG functions activities after last CSR meeting PHC EG meetings ● PHC EG 6 th meeting in Vilnius, May 22 ● Seminar “PHC in ND Countries” Vilnius, May 23rd Horizontal collaboration with other Expert Groups: ● Discussions started with PH EG on their project proposal to BSR programme ● More joint activities could be planned after meeting of all EG in Oslo Sept 30 - Oct1st Strengthen the role and visibility of the PHC EG between the ND countries ● Involvement of expert from Belarus ● Production of fact sheets & article about main activities

PHC EG Partner representatives Belarus Estonia Finland Latvia Lithuania Norway Poland (co-lead partner) Russia Sweden (lead partner) WHO/Euro

WA 2: Production of thematic reports and situation analysis Report: Primary Health Care in the ND Region Main objective: -to overview the PHC system developments in the countries emphasizing possible gaps -to provide stake-holders with recommendations for possible improvements through project-based activities

Seminar on PHC situation in the ND Countries, Vilnius May 23 rd Organized by: Swedish MoH&SA (lead country of PHC EG) Lithuanian MoH WHO Regional office for Europe Objectives of the seminar: to present evidence from international research data on the importance of PHC in modern society for cost-effective and equitable health care system to introduce recent WHO activities for strengthening PHC in the region. to present and to discuss weaknesses of PHC development and to agree on priority strategies for strengthening PHC in the Northern Dimension (ND) countries

Results of the seminar Raised awareness among relevant stakeholders from National and Regional levels on the importance of primary health care Discussed and prioritized (together!) problems and actual project based activities for Countries of the Region Preliminary support received from representative of ND PHS Partners and various stakeholders for joint actions to improve PHC in the Region Visibility of PHC EG increased

Activities after the seminar Start of activities in support to planning, implementation and monitoring of projects ● From situation analysis towards action to change priority problems ● Explored possibilities of getting access to funding for further action (BSR Programme ) ● Swedish East Europe Committee agreed to take lead partner position and contracted Consultant Agency “Sustainable Projects” to develop project proposal ● Project outline developed and potential partners from different countries discussed

Project title “Improvement of public health by promotion of equitably distributed high quality primary health care systems” Objective of the project To improve public health by counteracting communicable diseases and targeting health problems related to social factors Specific objectives: To promote equitable distribution of high quality PHC system To balance patients’ preferences more towards primary health care To better address health risks related to gender and social factors To counteract communicable diseases through preventive measures and evidence based clinical management

Project outline further will be discussed during PHC EG meeting in Oslo Sept 30 - Oct 1 st We would appreciate if CSR members: ● provide critical yet constructive comments ● decide on willingness to support a BSR proposal from the PHC EG ● communicate this support to the PHC EG experts and relevant organizations from their respective countries THANK YOU!