WHO and Azerbaijan join forces for an international meeting on the future of hospitals in Europe and Central Asia

On 5–7 June, WHO Regional Office for Europe, together with the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the State Agency on Mandatory Health Insurance (SAMHI), and the Administration of the Regional Medical Divisions (TABIB) is co-hosting a high-level regional meeting in Baku, Azerbaijan on the future of hospitals. Focusing on the theme of ‘Fit-for-purpose hospitals: prioritizing quality and sustainability to meet the demands of modern healthcare’, the event brings together more than 200 government representatives, hospital practitioners, and partners from across WHO European Region to discuss major challenges facing hospitals in the European Region — with a particular emphasis on Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

Supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through a joint project with WHO Country Office in Azerbaijan, the three-day event will explore a wide range of topics, including the challenges and opportunities hospitals face, envisioning a transformative future for healthcare facilities, establishing climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable hospitals, digital transformation, optimizing human resources, effective governance and management for hospitals, and driving hospital transformation towards primary health-care-oriented systems.

Speaking at the opening speech, Health Minister Teymur Musayev highly appreciated the relevance of the essence and goals of the international meeting for the modern era. Teymur Musayev emphasized that Heydar Aliyev, the national leader of our nation, whose 100th anniversary was celebrated in Azerbaijan this year, laid the foundation for our country's successful cooperation with WHO: "The groundwork for most of the achievements of our national health care was made with the personal participation of the Great Leader during his leadership of our country."

Teymur Musayev pointed out that during the last 15 years, important works have been carried out in the direction of the infrastructure, human capital, and modernization of the national healthcare system of Azerbaijan: "During this period, more than 700 medical institutions equipped with modern equipment have been built and renovated. Important achievements have been accomplished in the formation and development of the potential of professional medical staff, and the curriculum of Azerbaijan Medical University has been adjusted to international standards. At the same time, there were great opportunities to reevaluate the paradigm of healthcare by making the citizen factor a priority goal in the treatment and prevention centers. "The initial stage is already being implemented with successful results."

"The event is taking place at a time when there is a special need to strengthen primary health services in the world. The transformation to a sustainable and rapid unified digital platform for primary healthcare, inpatient and outpatient treatments, and the application of modern management in healthcare systems are extremely urgent. Today's event will be an important step in preparing the functionality of healthcare systems for future public health issues," concluded the minister.

In his speech, the Executive Director of TABIB Dr. Vugar Gurbanov spoke about the important role of hospitals in health care and noted that continuous work is being done to adapt the operation of hospitals to the changing demands. However, along with that, he also drew attention to the importance of identifying the need of eliminating the main problems and improving management in the hospital sector.

According to Dr. Vugar Gurbanov: "It is our joint responsibility to create an environment that supports continuous learning and innovation in the hospital, to inculcate modern patient care methods among the medical staff, as well as to ensure the health and well-being of the hospital staff." According to him, work is currently being done to improve the way hospitals operate, and special attention is paid to ensuring that existing processes and systems work effectively in accordance with our goals. "This includes the introduction of new technologies, identification of new financing mechanisms, improvement of infrastructure, reduction of workload for staff, and efficient use of resources," said Dr. Vugar Gurbanov. At the same time, in his speech, he emphasized the implementation of new approaches to public health care and the provision of consistent activities in the direction of improving primary health care services. "I think that this high-level meeting will allow us to define new contours of our strategy," with the words of Dr. Vugar Gurbanov finished his speech.

“Each hospital is a special and unique place. It’s not only a building where we provide services; a hospital is part of its community, where people come to work every day, where families come hoping their loved ones are cured, feel better, and they are critical drivers of the health system transformation in the European Region,” said Dr. Natasha Azzopardi Muscat, the Director of WHO/Europe’s Division of Country Health Policies and Systems. “We as WHO/Europe are proud and honored to be co-hosting this regional meeting in Baku with the Ministry of Health and our partners in Azerbaijan, and look forward to moving this important agenda forward, together.”

Dr. Hande Harmanci, WHO Representative to Azerbaijan, highlighting the importance of transformative change in the area of hospitals, noted "Hospitals are an integral part of the healthcare system, and it is essential that we address their challenges and embrace opportunities for improvement. This meeting serves as a platform to bring together experts and stakeholders to collectively shape the future of hospitals in Europe."

The final day of the meeting will be dedicated to Azerbaijan, focusing on identifying the country's specific needs and defining WHO's role in providing support and solutions. This session will include the active participation of national and international participants, as well as WHO experts, ensuring a comprehensive and collaborative approach to addressing the country's healthcare needs in the field of hospitals.

This high-level regional meeting represents a significant step forward in addressing the major challenges faced by hospitals in Europe. Through robust discussions, sharing best practices, and leveraging expertise, it will contribute to the development of strategies and solutions that prioritize quality, sustainability, and the evolving demands of modern hospitals and the transformative change they need.

To follow the meeting online:

In Azerbaijani: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRSMB1tKUdk

In English: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FU0yYV5Zy