WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION ORGANISATION MONDIALE DE LA SANTÉ
REGIONAL OFFICE FOR EUROPE BUREAU RÉGIONAL DE L'EUROPE
WELTGESUNDHEITSORGANISATION ВСЕМИРНАЯ ОРГАНИЗАЦИЯ ЗДРАВООХРАНЕНИЯ
REGIONALBÜRO FÜR EUROPA ЕВРОПЕЙСКОЕ РЕГИОНАЛЬНОЕ БЮРО
Sub-regional Technical Meeting on /2
Identifying Mid- to Long-term Solutions
related to Ukraine Refugee Health Response
Venue: Prague, Czech Republic
Dates: 11-12 June 2024 Original: English
CONCEPT NOTE
1. Background:
The war in Ukraine continues to have dramatic impacts both in Ukraine and in surrounding countries. With
over four million displaced persons within Ukraine, close to six million Ukrainian refugees were registered
across Europe and 6.5 million worldwide as of February 2024. Movement from and to Ukraine remains
pendular as the situation continues to ebb and flow in volatility. Since February 2022, some refugees
staying in refugee-hosting countries continue to seek health care access and treatment in Ukraine.
The majority of refugees are women and children, with 65% of displaced households having children under
18 and 41% including an elderly person over 60. Vulnerable groups among refugee populations include
persons with disabilities and pre-existing conditions. Disruptions in health care services, compounded by
conflict conditions, have heightened the population's vulnerability to communicable diseases like COVID-
19, tuberculosis, polio, and measles. Low vaccination coverage, lack of medical documentation, and
language barriers continue to impede access to care, especially for refugees with chronic diseases or mental
health conditions. Refugees with chronic diseases, non-communicable diseases, and other conditions,
including cancer, often experience interruptions in treatment, which can still lead to emergent and non-
emergent health needs on arrival and may cause considerable, long-term burden on the health care system
of refugee-hosting countries.
The impact on host communities’ health and infrastructure has also been significant. While some health
systems have managed to accommodate both refugees and host communities, the crisis has exposed gaps
and inconsistent health care coverage, exacerbating unmet needs for both refugees and host populations.
Communities and governments of countries hosting refugees have demonstrated exceptional generosity by
keeping borders open and continuing to welcome refugees as the war enters its third year. However, with
the protracted crisis, there is a growing need to establish long-term sustainable services for all affected
individuals, recognizing that refugee health is public health, and comprehensive attention is necessary for
addressing all needs.
In 2023, the WHO Regional Office for Europe conducted a sub-regional high-level consultation in
Bratislava, Slovakia, focused on lessons learned and best practices sharing among refugee-hosting
countries during the Ukraine crisis. Participants joined from Czechia, Hungary, Poland, Republic of
Moldova, Romania, and Slovakia. The consultation served as a platform for discussion and proposals
leading to further cooperation and coordination between the participating countries to solidify emergency
response capability in the coming years. The delegates emphasized the necessity to strengthen international
and interregional cooperation during times of multiple and ongoing health and humanitarian crises.
2. Purpose and objectives:
The proposed technical meeting is to follow-up to the recommendations of the 2023 sub-regional high-
level consultation on lessons learned and best practice sharing between refugee-hosting countries in the
context of the Ukraine war, held in Bratislava, Slovakia.
The overarching goal of the meeting is to define longer-term priorities for refugee-receiving countries by
identifying major policy options, operational directions, and address thematic areas such as refugee
response inventory, sustainable health financing, human resource strengthening, twinning projects
implementation, and enhanced health information management, fostering collaboration, knowledge
sharing, and advocacy efforts for resource mobilization in the region.
Objectives:
To foster stronger sub-regional collaboration and jointly identify and implement innovative
solutions to address the complex healthcare needs of refugee populations and health system
challenges to be able to meet both host and refugee population health needs while promoting equity,
dignity, and resilience.
To facilitate the sharing of insights and best practices in refugee health responses.
To support refugee-hosting countries in long-term sustainable and strategic planning and
cooperation.
This meeting is organized by the WHO Regional Office for Europe in agreement with the Ministry of
Health of Czechia, and will bring together experts from ten refugee hosting countries (Bulgaria, Czechia,
Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Republic of Moldova, Romania, and Slovakia) and Ukraine
to discuss suggestions and solutions to common overarching problems identified during the current refugee
response, such as:
financial limitations,
shortage of health workforce,
challenges of health information systems, and
health service delivery challenges including access to Primary Health Care, mental health, non-
communicable and communicable diseases.
Expected Outcomes:
The meeting will provide a platform for the exchange of ideas, knowledge, best practices and will
facilitate collaboration and networking amongst participating countries
The meeting will provide the opportunity to discuss and build on the WHO draft report on “Impacts
of the large-scale displacement from Ukraine on health systems in refugee-receiving countries in
the WHO European Region: challenges and opportunities for transformative actions and policies”
and draft policy options and considerations papers focused on health financing and service delivery.
The meeting will identify next steps for mid- to long-term strategic planning and sustained efforts
by refugee-hosting countries, through implementing innovative solutions to address the complex
healthcare needs of refugee populations in the following areas:
a. development of sustainable health system financing mechanisms,
b. strengthen health care workforce capacity,
c. enhance service delivery for both host and refugee communities, and
d. to improve health information management system to guide evidence-based decision-making
in emergencies.
The meeting will generate key insights and actionable recommendations, informed by participants’
examples, along with the necessary steps for implementation.
3. Dates, Location and Language:
The technical meeting will take place on 11-12 June 2024 in Prague, Czech Republic.
Participants are advised to arrive on 10 June, afternoon and depart on 13 June, morning.
The meeting will be in English language.
4. Participants:
Approximately 60 participants are expected to take part in the meeting.
Invited participants will include technical experts from:
Refugee-hosting countries (Bulgaria, Czechia, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland,
Republic of Moldova, Romania, and Slovakia) and Ukraine
Countries with similar experiences with previous health and humanitarian emergencies and large-
scale displacement (e.g., Germany, Türkiye, France, Sweden)
There will also be WHO representation from all three levels of the organization.
Representatives from the European Commission, UN partners, donors, and academia will be invited as
well.
5. Format of the meeting:
The meeting will feature interactive plenary and group discussions on sustainable health financing, health
workforce, health services delivery, and health information as cross cutting issues (evidence -based
decision making).
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
ORGANISATION MONDIALE DE LA SANTÉ
WELTGESUNDHEITSORGANISATION Date: 18 April 2024
ВСЕМИРНАЯ ОРГАНИЗАЦИЯ ЗДРАВООХРАНЕНИЯ
. .
REGIONAL OFFICE FOR EUROPE
BUREAU RÉGIONAL DE L’EUROPE Ms Helen Sõber
REGIONALBÜRO FÜR EUROPA Adviser
ЕВРОПЕЙСКОЕ РЕГИОНАЛЬНОЕ БЮРО
European Union Affairs and International Co-
Head office: operation Department
UN City, Marmorvej 51, Ministry of Social Affairs
DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
Tel.: +45 45 33 70 00; Fax: +45 45 33 70 01
Suur-Ameerika 1 Tallinn 10122
Email:
[email protected] Estonia
Website: https://www.who.int/europe . .
Our reference: WHE/EMO Your reference:
Notre référence: Votre référence:
Unser Zeichen: Ihr Zeichen:
См. наш номер: На Ваш номер:
Dear Ms Sõber,
Sub-regional Technical Meeting on Identifying Mid- to Long-term Solutions
related to Ukraine Refugee Health Response
Prague, Czech Republic, 11-12 June 2024
I have the honour to inform you that the World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, in
agreement with the Government of the Czech Republic, plans to hold the above-mentioned meeting.
The aim of the meeting is to identify next steps for mid- to long-term strategic planning and sustained
efforts by refugee-hosting countries, such as fostering trans-national cooperations and partnerships to
collaboratively identify and implement innovative solutions to address the complex healthcare needs
of refugee populations, sustainable health system financing mechanisms, strengthening health care
worker capacity and service delivery for both host and refugee communities, and to improve health
information management to guide evidence-based decision-making in emergencies. An outline of the
concept note of the meeting is enclosed.
I have pleasure in inviting you to nominate two to three experts responsible for health financing,
health workforce planning, and health services delivery to actively participate in and contribute to
plenary and group discussions of this meeting.
The working language will be English.
Travel for participants will be arranged and paid for by the WHO Regional Office for Europe, and
they will also receive a daily subsistence allowance for the duration of the meeting in accordance with
our travel regulations.
UN City, Marmorvej 51 Tel.: +45 45 33 70 00 Email:
[email protected]
DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø Fax: +45 45 33 70 01 Website: https://www.who.int/europe
Denmark
I look forward to receiving your nominations, giving the names, functional titles, and email addresses
of the proposed participants at your earliest convenience. We shall then communicate with them
directly and provide them with the necessary documentation and administrative information in good
time.
Dr Ardita Tahirukaj is responsible for this activity, and it would be appreciated if you would address
your reply to her by email (
[email protected]).
Yours sincerely,
p.p. Dr Gundo Weiler
Director Country Support and Partnerships
Acting Regional Emergency Director
Encls:
Concept note
Copy for information to:
Ms Triin Uusberg, Head, European Union Affairs and International Co-operation Department, Ministry of Social Affairs,
Suur-Ameerika 1 Tallinn 10129, Estonia
H.E. Ms Riia Salsa-Audiffren, Ambassador Representative of the Republic of Estonia, Permanent Mission of the Republic
of Estonia to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, Chemin du Petit-Saconnex 28A
Genève CH-1209, Switzerland
Ms Kristina Köhler, Liaison Officer, WHO Country Office, Estonia, Paldiski Road 81 Tallinn 10617, Estonia
–2–
Saatja: "DEIBEL, Tim" <
[email protected]>
Saaja: "Helen Sõber"
Teema: EST - Nomination letter - Sub-regional Technical Meeting on Identifying Mid- to Long-term Solutions related to Ukraine Refugee Health Response
Kuupäev: 2024-04-19 06:28
Dear Ms Sõber,
Please find attached nomination letter and concept note regarding the
“Sub-regional Technical Meeting on Identifying Mid- to Long-term Solutions
related to Ukraine Refugee Health Response” to be held from 11-12 June
2024 in Prague, Czech Republic.
We would be grateful to receive your nominations no later than 30 April
2024.
Thank you very much and best regards,
Tim
______________________
Tim Deibel
Programme Assistant
World Health Organization
Emergency Operations
Regional Office for Europe
Copenhagen
Denmark
Office: +45 45 33 71 04
who.int