Regional Workshop for TU experts on health system reforms in SEE countries

On 17-18 June 2010 a regional workshop on health care system reforms was organised in Tirana, Albania. The aim of the Workshop was to outline the key challenges resulting from on-going health system reforms in SEE countries, functioning of the actual systems, and to exchange opinions and considerations about possible trade union approaches and strategic opportunities for future development.

The Workshop was held with financial support of the FGTB Belgium, and the support of the Hungarian Branch Trade Union of Health – SZEF, which provided Ms. Eva Csernus – experts on the health care issue who delivered a presentation on Health System functioning and Social dialogue in the health system in Hungary; Reforms in Hungary, positive and negative experiences, the major reform strategies: restructuring, decentralisation and privatisation; and on the role of trade unions. Active participation by all participants from the branch trade unions of health and experts in charge of health system reforms on the confederations’ level from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo and Macedonia in particular added significantly to the value of the workshop. The participants presented the situation of health care system in their countries and reforms done so far, position of health employees and quality of health, as well as the positive and negative national experiences. The main conclusion of the Workshop were: - (1) It is necessary to develop cooperation between the SEE trade unions on all important issues regarding the health system reforms and social legislation; (2) To continue to participate in the national and regional events in order to get prepared for the active role of trade unions in the process of reforms; (3) It is important to develop trade union approaches and strategic opportunities on how to reconcile interest of health employees and users.

ITUC/PERC SEE Office Sarajevo