Publications

During the Conference welcome reception, Minister of Health met with Dr. David Butler-Jones, director of Federal Public Health Agency of Canada. They have exchanged experiences in regard to „Mexican“ flue occurrence preparations. In Winnipeg, during the Conference, 26 such serious cases were recorded. Being the host of a Winter Olympics that are going to be held in Canada this winter, Canada has a very developed action plan in case of a massive Mexican flue pandemia. Dr. Jones has offered support and preparation plans in case of Mexican flue pandemia, which have been accepted by Dr. Milosavljevic, and accordingly, our epidemiologists have made contacts with Canadian Public Health Agency. Dr. Jones has emphasised that he has never been in Serbia and would like to make a visit, but since he has been extremely limited by a large number of flue cases, as well as Olympics preparations, he suggested considering official invitation for his visit to Serbia for autumn this year, when all projects in the Balkans that have been funded by CIDA, are officially completed.

On the first day of the Conference, a meeting with director of Manitoba Health Policy Research Center, Patricia Martens, was held. The Center has been recognised as the Center with the best data bases in public health research in Canada. In the Center, a successful cooperation among researchers, regional health authority representatives, and local planners has been established. They provide research results used for evidence based decision making on health policy plan development in the province.

 During the second day of the Conference, representatives of Republic of Serbia held two presentations at the session called „Building civil society’s voice for better health in the Balkans“. The session was chaired by Jim Chauvin, executive director of the Canadian Public Health Association. Its’ objective was to explore the role and importance of civil society, especially public health associations, in implementation, support and enhancement of public health approach and practices in healthy public policies development, as well as in developing democratic society. Firstly, the Minister of Health held a speech about public health development in the Balkans, and its’ implications on health care system reform, while prof. Dr. Snezana Simic talked about challenges that Public Health Association of Serbia faces in healthy public policies development. In both presentations thus far achievements in public health development in Serbia have been emphasised, as well as projects’ funded by CIDA results that have tremendously affected knowledge base development in public health sector, and have fostered nongovernmental sector in this field. In the session, along with Serbian representatives, also participated representatives from Public Health Association of the Republic of Srpska, Partnership for Public Health from Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and representatives of the third project funded by CIDA in the Balkans called „Balkans Youth and Health“.

 In days that followed, our delegation made organized visits to various health institutes and institutions, and was introduced to interesting projects that are being implemented in this Canadian province. Accordingly, during the third day of the trip to Winnipeg, a visit to Manitoba Ministry of Healthy Living (Ministry of Health Promotion) was organized, where the representatives from Serbia, Republic of Srpska and Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina were introduced to several very significant programmes that have been implemented by this Ministry, which may be important to us as well. Those are:

 ·          Provincial programme of increasing physical activity „Manitoba in Motion“, (more information on the web site  – www.manitobainmotion.ca/ );

·            Programme called „Initiative for prevention of chronic massive non-infectious diseases“ (more information on the web site- www.gov.mb.ca/health/chronicdisease/cdpi/index.html );

·            Programme called „Integrated network of doctors“ (more information on the web site  – www.gov.mb.ca/health/phc/pin/index.html ).

The same day, a project „Health connections“ that has been implemented in Health Center „Misericordia“, a provincial contact center for health related problems, exceptionally well organized and internationally recognized as a center of excellence in which new technologies ensure health and social service support over the telephone to the community, was presented.  The Center has around 450 000 phone calls per year, and provides service in 110 languages (they had phone calls in our language as well).

Project „Access River East“ represents a good example of health and social integration that consists of a number of different projects that are underway in the Center, such as specialized children programmes, community’s mental health improvement project, employment and support to disabled members of the community, including rehabilitation services, home nursing and support, primary health care service, public health, palliative care, social assistance and employment support, children protection and children and family integrative services. This project is unique in trying to ensure integrated approach to health and social needs of the local community, and has showed remarkable results so far. More information about the project and its’ results can be found on the web site: www.wrha.mb.ca/communitz/wis/fag.php.

 On the fourth day, a study visit to cancer care hospital in Winnipeg was organized (www.cancercare.mb.ca/home/ ). The hospital provides all inclusive health care to people who suffer from malignant diseases and constantly tries to improve the quality of life and survival of those patients.   

On the same day, a meeting between Serbian Minister of Health, prof. Dr. Tomica Milosavljevic, and Minister of Healthy Living of Manitoba, Mrs. Kerri Irvin-Ross, was organized. During pleasant dialogue and lunch the two discussed about management and economical well keeping of the health care system, successful projects they have implemented, as well as limitations and obstacles they face in their everyday work.

During the last day of Winnipeg stay, a visit to Wellness Institute that is located in one of the Winnipeg hospitals and represents an exemplar of future hospital innovative management development, was organized. The Institute is a part of the hospital that provides variety of services to the community, to hospital employees, and hospitalized patients, starting with fitness services, through medical rehabilitation, to variety of projects that deal with different ways of physical activities for certain population groups. The Institute is sustainable, provides sufficient financial resources for its own development and survival, and is unprecedented in Canada (www.wellnessinstitute.ca/). Currently, several hospitals are trying to develop a similar approach, through enriching content of hospital health services. On the same day, a visit to a primary health care center where no waiting for a check up is needed, and where a patient is able to see a doctor or other health worker in time that suit them most, was organized. This approach has been recognized as all inclusive method of providing efficient health care services to the community. At the same time, the center serves as family medicine residents and nurse training study base (www.sogh.winnipeg.mb.ca/).

 All visits were organised with significant engagement and support from members of the „Primary Health Care Policy Development in the Balkans“ and “Strengthening Balkans Civil Society’s Voice for Public Health through Public Health Associations“ projects, and have provided the opportunity to learn about interesting projects in Manitoba regarding public health, as well as about the provincial health system and its’ performances. Although some of the seen projects are underway in our country as well, certain are very interesting and represent innovative approach in providing health care services that could be implemented in our country as well, respecting certain particularities of our health care system.

 In conclusion, it is necessary to point out that participation at the Annual Canadian Public Health Association Conference has enriched our knowledge regarding public health development in this country, especially in perspective that next year - 2010,  they will celebrate 100 years of founding of their Association and support in establishing 44 public health associations around the world so far, including ours, which represents an impressive result and effort in fostering public health. Study visits and getting acquainted with innovative and successful projects, at primary and secondary health care levels, have guided us to consider adopting similar approaches in our system, in a framework of reforming those levels of health care in Serbia, and to make contacts with people who are willing to give support and assistance in implementation of these ideas.

Belgrade

June 25th,2009        The report was prepared by  

                                Prof. Dr. Snezana Simic