The Tenth high-level meeting of the Small Countries Initiative (SCI), which took place in Limassol, Cyprus, on 10–12 April 2024, brought together ministers of health and secretaries of state from the 12 countries participating in the Initiative and two non-SCI countries. Small-country perspectives, challenges and needs emerged on the following themes: beating cancer in the WHO European Region and relevant EU policy; cancer screening and early diagnosis; childhood cancer; and climate change and health. Information was presented on action taken regarding human resources for health and access to medicines, as well as on the establishment of the Coalition of Partners on Health and Tourism. This meeting was unique in that it welcomed the 12th WHO Member State to the SCI, namely, North Macedonia. It provided an opportunity for the participants to share progress made in implementing the Roadmap towards better health in small countries in the WHO European Region, 2022–2025 in their countries, and to address the challenges of small countries in the Region and beyond.
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- World Health Organization. Regional Office for Europe . (2024). Tenth high-level meeting of the Small Countries Initiative: converging on small countries’ health priorities: Limassol, Cyprus, 10–12 April 2024. World Health Organization. Regional Office for Europe. https://iris.who.int/handle/10665/379391 . License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO
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- WHO/EURO:2024-10666-50438-76179 (PDF)
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- 78
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- CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO
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- World Health Organization
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Table of Contents
- Abbreviations 7
- Executive summary 8
- Background 9
- Objectives of the meeting 10
- Opening of the meeting 11
- Session 1. Beating cancer in SCI countries 14
- Summary of keynote presentation 14
- The cancer burden in SCI countries and cancer-control strategies 14
- Summary of country interventions 15
- Key messages 17
- Session 1.1. A focus on cancer screening 18
- Keynote presentations 19
- Cancer screening in SCI countries 19
- Equity and cancer screening: European experiences 20
- Summary of country interventions 21
- Key messages 25
- Progress update 1. Advancing human resources for health 26
- Summary of country interventions 28
- Key messages 32
- Session 2. Childhood cancer 34
- Summary of keynote presentations 34
- Childhood cancer in SCI countries 34
- Childhood cancer control 35
- Summary of country interventions 36
- Key messages 36
- Progress update 2 – Access to medicines 37
- Keynote presentations 37
- Access to medicines and health products 38
- Summary of country interventions 39
- Key messages 40
- Session 3. Health and climate change 41
- Keynote presentations 41
- Global and regional political and strategic developments 42
- Tracking progress on health and climate change 43
- Summary of country interventions 44
- Key messages 48
- Progress update 3. Coalition of Partners on Health and Tourism 50
- Signing of the Cyprus Statement 51
- Conclusions 52
- References 53
- Annex 1. The Cyprus Statement 56
- Annex 2. Programme 59
- Annex 3. Participants 71
