Gazmend H Bejtja

Digital violence against children and women is a growing health and social concern - and Albania is stepping forward with leadership. At #WHA79, I met with 🇦🇱 Health Minister Dr Evis Sala and welcomed her initiative to establish a dedicated centre to address technology-facilitated violence. We also discussed Albania’s health system priorities: cancer services reform, following the recent WHO expert mission on cancer screening, and hospital transformation, drawing on lessons from Romania while strengthening primary health care. I thanked the Minister for her active engagement at the launch of the Pan-European Commission on Climate and Health’s Call to Action and welcomed Albania’s readiness to reflect the Commission’s recommendations in its health strategy. @WHO_Europe stands ready to support Albania.

In my online meeting with UN Resident Coordinator in Albania 🇦🇱, @MacdonaldIngrid, we discussed how @UN_Albania, @WHOAlbania & @WHO_Europe can work together to support Albania’s EU accession process. As the @UN system in 🇦🇱 develops the new Cooperation Framework for 2027–2031 (UNSDCF), we exchanged views on aligning its priority areas with the new European Programme of Work (#EPW2), which will be presented to Member States for approval later this month at the Regional Committee. I also briefed @MacdonaldIngrid on @WHO’s ongoing restructuring at the global, regional & country levels, and shared my vision for re-imagining WHO/Europe through cost containment, strategic resource mobilization, and innovation, including the use of AI. #HealthForAll

Had a productive first exchange with Dr Evis Sala, newly appointed Minister of Health & Social Welfare of Albania. I welcomed her strong commitment to advancing health system reforms towards Universal Health Coverage – focusing on noncommunicable diseases & cancer control, digitalization, strengthening primary health care (PHC), and transforming health-care management. We converged in identifying PHC as the bedrock of “leaving no one behind” actions, integrating health & social services. I expressed @WHO_Europe’s readiness to support 🇦🇱 in driving these priorities forward. We also agreed to work together to close the health gap between the Western Balkans and the EU, building on the new European Programme of Work (#EPW2) and the Western Balkans Roadmap 2.0. Looking forward to welcoming Minister @EvisSala at @UNCityCPH in December for the #Albania Country Day event. #HealthForAll

My thanks again to Minister Vandenbroucke, for Belgium's leadership in tackling the commercial determinants of non-communicable diseases - under the wider umbrella of #HealthForAll. @WHO_Europe's new report, launched with 🇧🇪, is a sobering read - inspiring us to urgent action.

Welcome to @WHOEMRO RD Dr @HananBalkhy and @WHO HQ's Jérôme Salomon, @DrMikeRyan & @MikkelsenBente - at @UNCityCPH for the Global High-Level Meeting on Noncommunicable Diseases in Humanitarian Settings. We're working to achieve #HealthForAll in truly challenging contexts.