Chisinau, Moldova, June 20 -21, 2013

EurHeCA invited to present its work in Moldova at the invitation of the TAIEX (European Commission) and WHO

A first workshop of this kind on "harmonization and mutual recognition of health professionals' qualifications in Europe" gathering SEEHN member states (South-Eastern Europe Health Network) and WHO representatives, took place in Chisinau, Moldova, on June 18-19, 2013.

It was organised by TAIEX - the Technical Assistance and Information Exchange instrument managed by the Directorate-General Enlargement of the European Commission - in cooperation with the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Moldova.

SEEHN is a political and institutional forum set up by the governments of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Montenegro, the Republic of Moldova, Romania, Serbia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to promote peace, reconciliation and health in the region. In 2011, Israel became a 10th member of the Network.

The aims of the meeting were:

• to increase awareness among SEEHN member states on the EU experience with the Directive 2005/36/EC, lessons learned and policy options for mutual recognition of health professional qualifications in line with EU laws and Standards,
• to discuss the role of competent authorities and professional organizations in the implementation of the EU health professionals' card and implications for the SEEHN member states,
• to identify common challenges and actions for mutual recognition of qualifications in the SEEHN member states and harmonizing with EU requirements.

The introduction of the meeting was done by (from left to right on the photo):

• Mr Alexandre Berlin, Honorary Director, European Commission
• Mr Andrei Usatii, Minister of Health of the Republic of Moldova
• Mr Jarno Habicht, WHO representative in the Republic of Moldova
• Mr Goran Cerkez, SEEHN Executive Committee

Moldavie intervenants

Then different sessions were organised to present "Experience of EU Member States in implementation the European Professional Qualifications Directive 2005/36: challenges, lessons learnt and future perspectives, from:

• Austria by Mrs. Susanne Weiss, Ministry of Health
• Estonia by Mrs. Evi Lindmäe, Health Board
• Bulgaria by Mrs. Dora Kostadinova, Medical University
• Slovenia by Mrs. Sabina Trokic, Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities

Romania by Mrs. Beatrice Nimereanu, Ministry of Health

The afternoon was dedicated to EurHeCA and HPRO Card. Based on a proposal of WHO, TAIEX invited Patrick Fortuit to present "the European professional card: the main objectives and results of the HPRO Card project." This was also an opportunity to focus on the draft revision of the Directive on Qualifications and the role that the European Commission and Parliament want to give to the professional card, in close collaboration with IMI.

Moldavie PF

Mariane Cimino then presented "EurHeCA / European Health professionals' Competent Authorities: an overview of the origins, objectives and activities." She was able to discuss the general lines of the White Paper which will be proposed at the next general meeting of EurHeCA and the updated works about the cartography of health professionals' cards done for the benefit of the European Commission.

The debates have been particularly rich and allowed constructive exchanges between states that are potential candidates to join the European Union and European organizations ready to provide every assistance to help them in their projects.