Southeastern Europe Health Network’ Regional Health Development Centre for Accreditation and Continuous Health Care Quality Improvement Officially Inaugurated

Southeastern Europe Health Network’s Regional Health Development Centre (RHDC) for Accreditation and Continuous Quality Improvement was officially opened within the framework of the Agency for Accreditation of Health Care Institutions in Serbia, on October 4, 2012 in Belgrade.

Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic, PhD, Minister of Health of the Republic of Serbia in her keynote address, highlighted that the work of South-eastern Europe Health Network’s Regional Health Development Centre for Accreditation and Continuous Quality Improvement will ensure a base for further improving healthcare services and public health in the SEE.
Establishment of Regional Health Development Centres guarantees sustainability and long-term implementation of cooperation programmes in health, exchange of experiences and good practices, harmonization of standards and establishing guidelines, the Minister stressed.

The meeting was also addressed by Dr. Goran Čerkez,  Acting Chair of the SEEHN Executive Committee, Dr. Nand Shani, from the Regional Cooperation Council,  Ms. Antje Rothemund, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Belgrade , Mr. Loup Brefort, Country Manager of the World Bank in Serbia and Dr. Dorit Nitzan Kaluski, Head of WHO Country Office in Serbia. The conference was also attended by H.E. Mr. Vincent Degert, Head of Delegation of the European Union to Serbia. Following this, the presentation of the state of art of the SEEHN was delivered by Ms. Snezhana Chichevalieva, WHO representative to the SEEHN. The new RHDC was presented by Dr. Snezana Manic, director of Agency for Accreditation of Health Care Institutions of Serbia.

Following the official inauguration of the Centre, workshop of the SEEHN national focal points to the RHDC from the 10 SEEHN member states was held. The workshop focussed on sharing information on patient safety, presenting the basic principles of quality of care and risk management in health care, including the role of efficient communication and monitoring. Thus, this RHDC has already created network of experts to share experiences and exchange information relevant to the SEEHN member states.

The event was organized by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Serbia and the Agency for Accreditation of Health Care Institutions in Serbia, with the support from the World Health Organization, Regional office for Europe.