The security conference GLOBSEC 2022 Bratislava Forum also held a meeting of the Minister of Health of the Slovak Republic Vladimír Lengvarský with the Director General of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Tedros Adhan Gebreyesus. They discussed a number of topics, focusing on increased cooperation on mental health. The WHO High Representative also visited the National Cancer Institute in Bratislava.
Vladimír Lengvarský, Health Minister at the beginning of the meeting, congratulated the director-general of WHO Tedros Adhanom Gebreyesus for his re-election and for another five - year period. Slovakia is the first country visited by the Director-General once again. This visit is also of particular importance because the WHO Director-General has not visited any of the 34 countries that are part of the WHO Management Board for quite a long time and of which Slovakia has become a member since May 2022 for the first time.
The partners discussed the strengthening of primary health care as well as mental health and psychosocial support in the framework of increased cooperation with WHO. They also addressed the issue of the lack of medical staff, which affects not only Slovakia but also other countries. The topic of discussion was also the need to adjust and calibrate the health system in response to postpandemic developments.
The general director of WHO also met with the general director of the National Cancer Institute Tomáš Alscher, including other top experts in oncology accompanied by a member of the WHO Management Board for the SR Prof. MUDr. Jozef Šuvada, PhD., MPH, MBA and the general director of the Health Section of the Slovak Republic Pavol Mach. The highest official of the World Health Organisation recalled that although the Coronavirus pandemic may be timely in decline, immunisation of the population remains particularly needed in regions with low vaccination rates and especially in relation to older persons with associated diseases. A possible link between the Constitution and St. Jude by a hospital based in the United States of America, which focuses on the treatment of cancer in children, in addition to existing cooperation with the International Agency for Cancer Research.
GLOBSEC 2022 Bratislava Forum is the largest conference in the region of Central and Eastern Europe. At the 17th year, participants are currently discussing mobilizing support for Ukraine and increasing Europe's resilience in the context of the new geopolitical reality.
