Experiences and perceptions about the system of public health

Macedonian delegation lead by the Deputy Minister of Health and Principal Coordinator of the Health Sector Management Project Prof. Vladimir Popovski, MD, PHD is having an official visit of health care institutions in Belgium and Netherlands. The visit is organized within the frames of the Health Sector Management Project regarding development of the Public Health Law.

Delegation consisted of health experts from Macedonia should visit the Ministries of Health of Netherlands and Belgium and all other relevant institutions from the area of public health on federal and regional level of both countries.

At that point, Macedonian representatives have had series of successful meetings and got acquainted with the system of health protection in Belgium and Netherlands, and exchanged experiences with their colleagues-hosts.

The emphasis was put on health system according to the European concept and standards and to all relevant directives that regulate public health, food safety and way and extent of their incorporation in the national legislative.

At the official meetings, between other issues, there were discussions regarding health situation of the population, authorizations and collaboration between health care institutions on federal and local level and with health policy  decision makers, in which valuable  information have been shared for further cooperation between Republic of Macedonia and these two European countries-EU members.

During the visits and working meetings there were discussions of health insurance in the host countries and in Macedonia, the prevention, organization and functioning of the system of public health risk management, early warnings and information for the health threats to people and epidemiological supervision in the European Union.

Also, there was a presentation of the organization of food safety system, sharing the responsibilities and collaboration between the sectors. Currently there is an ongoing visit to the Regional Hygiene Institute in Antwerp, where the experiences are shared from several prevention activities and goals, prevention programs, protection and improvement of health. Regional Hygiene Institute in Antwerp is responsible for about 7 million population.

In the final part of the visit there is a planned visit to the Department of Public Health at the University of Maastricht, Netherlands in order to complete the data and information for the system of public health in Belgium and Netherlands.