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EUROPEAN UNION STRATEGY FOR THE BALTIC SEA REGION
Policy Area "Health"
Background
A healthy population is a critical factor behind the sustainable economic development of enterprises and societies. Therefore, improvement of health throughout the Baltic Sea region is important for the prosperity of the region. Challenges for the region in this regard include ageing societies, the growing threat posed by non-communicable diseases and the spread of infections, including infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
The Baltic Sea region is still an area of considerable disparities in health and social conditions. It features places where social and economic problems cause high levels of mortality due to non-communicable diseases, violence, alcohol and drug abuse and the spread of infectious diseases. Further, the growing cross-border movement of people needs to be paralleled by actions addressing inequalities in health status and in the level of health protection.
The NDPHS is the Coordinator for the Policy Area "Health" in the EUSBSR.
Priorities and targets
Six main health-related actions have been included in the EUSBSR Action Plan (latest revised in mid-2015):
- Reduce the impact of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and associated infections among populations at risk;
- Contain antimicrobial resistance;
- Adequately address health needs of chronically ill patients and needs related to demographic changes;
- Reduce impact of non-communicable diseases (NCDs);
- Reduce social and health harm from alcohol, tobacco and illicit use of drugs;
- Strengthen occupational safety and health and well-being at work.
The above health-related actions correlate with the goals and operational targets included in the NDPHS Strategy 2020 and its Action Plan. Thus, both strategies are linked and complement each other.
The flagship projects which fall under each action are detailed below.
Progress
Health is an area, which presents enormous challenges for the region and where targeted, joint action can produce tangible results.
The main achievements in the implementation process so far include, but are not limited to: (i) fostering macro-regional cooperation in health and making it more integrated and inclusive; (ii) providing assistance in identifying potential sources of financing for activities contributing to the implementation of the Strategy; (iii) fostering macro-regional cooperation in policy shaping; (iv) development, facilitation and support of regional flagship projects contributing to the implementation of the Strategy, and (v) increased visibility and recognition of importance of health on the regional cooperation agenda.
One more issue to address is to further efforts to involve other relevant regional stakeholders in the implementation of the Strategy.
With regards to the Flagship Projects, the following ones have been listed for the PA Health in the EUSBSR Action Plan (click on a project name for more information about it).
Completed activities
| Project Name | Thematic focus | Summary | Geographical area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alcohol and drug prevention among youth | Alcohol use Substance use |
Project duration: October 2012 – November 2013 The aim of the project was to reduce hazardous and harmful alcohol use and substance use in general among young people in municipalities around the Baltic Sea region through local empowerment and capacity building. |
|
| Improvement of public health by promotion of equitably distributed high quality primary health care systems (Imprim) | Primary health care | Project duration: March 2010 – December 2012 The aim of the project was to improve public health in the Baltic Sea region and, in particular, in its eastern part. Within this wide objective, the project focused on the role of primary health care and its benefits for the public health system as well as the regional competitiveness. Read the final reports from the project. |
Belarus Estonia Finland Latvia Lithuania Russia Sweden |
| "ICT for Health" – Strengthening social capacities for the utilisation of eHealth technologies in the framework of the ageing population | eHealth | Project duration: January 2010 – December 2012 The aim of the project was to enhance the social capacity, knowledge and acceptance by the citizens with chronic diseases and medical professionals in the regions of the project partners to utilise eHealth technologies in prevention and treatment. Read the final report from the project. |
Denmark Finland Germany Lithuania Norway Poland Russia Sweden |
| “PrimCare IT” - Counteracting brain drain and professional isolation of health professionals in remote primary health care through tele-consultation and tele-mentoring to strengthen social conditions in remote BSR |
eHealth Primary health care |
Project duration: January 2012 – March 2014 The aim of the project was to raise the attractiveness of remote primary health care. Opportunities for professional networking and continuing medical education as well as career development in remote areas are several issues which could be efficiently managed by means of tele-consultation and tele-mentoring, including social media. The project complements the above-named Imprim and ICT for Health projects. |
Belarus Estonia Finland Germany Latvia Lithuania Sweden
|
| Building capacity in prevention of HIV and associated infections among youth at high risk |
HIV prevention |
Project duration: September 2013 – August 2015 The aim of the project was to address the area of HIV prevention among youth at high risk of getting HIV and associated infections. Project activities included the assessment of needs of young people at risk in prevention programs, mapping best practices, training professionals, disseminating best practices and development of guide |
Finland Latvia Poland Russia
|
| Northern Dimension Antibiotic Resistance Study (NoDARS) | Antibiotic resistance |
Project duration: October 2014 – September 2017
The aim of the project is to provide health-care professionals, authorities and policy makers with comparable data that accurately reflect antibiotic resistance levels and the penetration of antibiotic resistance in the healthy population. The results of the project will help to evaluate and suggest improvements for existing national treatment recommendations and AMR strategies within the states of the participating partners. |
|
Ongoing activities
| Project Name | Thematic focus | Summary | Geographical area |
|---|---|---|---|
| BaltCityPrevention - Baltic cities tackle lifestyle related diseases | lifestyle related diseases | Project duration: October 2017 - September 2020 BaltCityPrevention has the following three main project aims. 1. To develop and test a new approach which helps Public Health Authorities (PHA) in prevention intervention planning. It will enable the PHAs to better tailor the interventions to the specific needs of the user group by applying participatory and co-creation methods in the planning procedure. 2. To involve eHealth technologies in the planning and implementation of the intervention in order to foster the joint development and co-design process. eHealth tools also support the user in the prevention intervention. 3. To initiate cooperation between PHAs and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through networking and matchmaking events. |
Denmark |
In addition, several other regional stakeholders have implemented and/or are implementing projects contributing to the implementation of policy actions included in the EUSBSR Policy Area "Health". These projects include, but are not limited to the following:
- eMedic - Developing new practices for teleconsultation and diabetes
- WASI - Work ability and social inclusion
- INNOCARE - Innovative solutions in care of elderly citizens living at home.
- HealthShare – Diagnostic development with clinical test sites and SMEs
- BFCC – Baltic Fracture Competence Centre
