2012

• On 27 January 2012, Hanno Pevkur, the new Minister, visited WHO/Europe, meeting Zsuzsanna Jakab, WHO Regional Director for Europe, and other senior managers.
  The visit was organized to provide the Minister with a comprehensive overview of WHO/Europe’s work, and to sign the biennial collaborative agreement (BCA) between Estonia and WHO/Europe for 2012–2013. Please read more at WHO Europe web.
  
  
   
  
  

  2011

• Today, on 14 October 2011, the Medical Faculty at the University of Tartu, Estonian Health Insurance Fund and WHO launched the Estonian Handbook for Guidelines Development as an outcome of a 2-year preparation process.
  The Estonian Handbook for Guidelines Development provides guidance for health-care providers and public health specialists about evidence-based options for diagnosis and care of patients that help to improve the quality of care in Estonia. Clinical guidelines handbook contains recommendations about important clinical questions, the guidelines support the implementation of evidence-based medicine, a systematic approach to the health system, improvements of the quality of care and harmonized clinical approach.
  
  

• The follow-up report “Responding to the challenge of financial sustainability in Estonia’s health system: one year on”
  On October 4, the follow-up report “Responding to the challenge of financial sustainability in Estonia’s health system: one year on” was launched. The report has a brief look at major changes in health care financing from 2010 nearly one and a half years later since a comprehensive analysis was performed. The goal is not to evaluate the impact of the earlier report, but a review of developments in those four areas of recommendations where the report found that these can significantly affect the financial sustainability of health care to facilitate further policy dialogue.
  
  

• National health promotion conference on child and youth health.
  The annual health promotion conference on 10 June 2011 focused on child and youth health in Tartu. The conference gathered expert information on the current situation of child and youth health, health factors and studied bottlenecks in creating a more safe and healthy environment for children. The main health risks for children and youth related to lifestyle and environment in Estonia are injuries, obesity, drug abuse and risky sexual behaviour. New data from the research on health behaviour of Estonian school children (Health Behaviour in School-aged Children Survey) that was carried out in 2010 gives an overview of major changes in recent years. Policies and interventions to improve child and adolescent health were the main focus of presentations by national and international experts. Areas identified as needing further attention in Estonia are parent education and drug prevention in preschool institutions. Among others the prevention of obesity and engagement of youth in health promotion were covered. The proposals made during the conference are published in the conference memorandum. The conference was organized in cooperation with the National Institute for Health Development, Estonian Health Insurance Fund, the Ministry of Social Affairs, the World Health Organization Country Office in Estonia, and the Ministry of Education and Research and the Health Promotion Union of Estonia.
  
  

• Report on tobacco control situation in Estonia.
  In December 2010, the Ministry of Social Affairs of Estonia and WHO Regional Office for Europe conducted a joint assessment to look at the current status of tobacco control in Estonia and discuss about its future strategic directions. Outcome of the assessment is a Report Joint national capacity assessment of tobacco control policies in Estonia. The report contains in addition to the analysis of the current tobacco control situation, a number of short- and medium-term policy recommendations. Estonia ratified the WHO FCTC in 2005 and has been implementing the international health treaty since. (Report in English.) Recommendations contained in the upcoming Report would assist Estonia in further implementation of the treaty.“The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control” is the theme of the next World No Tobacco Day, which will take place on the 31st of May 2011.
  

  2010

• Success of flagship course on health system strengthening continues.
  In October 2010, over 60 government and health insurance fund officials, and other health sector stakeholders from Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland participated in a flagship course on health system strengthening and sustainable financing, coordinated by WHO/Europe. This is the second time the course has been held, after a highly successful first round in 2009. The module will be followed by two more on health system financing and performance assessment in 2011.
  Please read more at WHO Europe web.
  
  

• Baltic health officials and international experts meet in Tallinn to discuss medicines policies and the effects of the economic crisis on the access to medicines.
  Note to the press: Tallinn and Copenhagen, 03 September 2010 (pdf)
  
  

• The health promotion conference 2010 in Estonia is about marketing health.
  The health promotion conference 2010 in Estonia is about marketing health. Conference “Health Messages in the Age of Information Overload” keynote speakers discuss the health communication in changing World and Estonia - what are developments until now, where we stand and what are the new ways to share information about health.
  
  

• World Health Day 2010 is about urban health.
  Please read more at World Health Day 2010 (Europe) and World Health Day 2010.
  
  

• Finding solutions to finance Estonia’s health system
  Health system financial sustainability has always been a central health policy issue, but the recent financial and economic crisis has forced it to the top of the policy agenda the world over. Today, 5 March 2010, health experts will discuss the issue at a conference in Tallinn and map out future solutions to health financing in Estonia. WHO Regional Director Zsuzsanna Jakab and Minister of Social Affairs Hanno Pevkur will address the conference.
  Note to the press: Tallinn and Copenhagen, 5 March 2010 (pdf)
  
  

• New WHO Regional Director for Europe visits Estonia on first official visit
  Ms Zsuzsanna Jakab makes her first official country visit to Estonia as World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Europe on 4–5 March 2010, at the invitation of the Minister of Social Affairs of Estonia, Mr Hanno Pevkur.
  Note to the press: Tallinn and Copenhagen, 5 March 2010 (pdf)
  
  

• New leader at the helm of WHO's Regional Office for Europe
  Zsuzsanna Jakab will take up her post as the new WHO Regional Director for Europe on 1 February 2010. Mrs Jakab will succeed Dr Marc Danzon, who has held the post since 2000.
  Please read more at WHO Europe web.
  
  
  
  

  2009

   
  

• Baltic health officials and international experts meet in Riga to discuss the economic crisis and its impact on health on November 12-13, 2009
  Note to the press: Riga, Tallinn, 12 Nov 2009 (pdf)
  
  

• The annual health promotion conference focuses on community opportunities
  On Friday, June 5, the traditional health promotion conference gathers in Tartu to discuss how communities can invest in health and the pathways how people can invest in their health and welfare.
  
  

• WHO supports the development of Estonian health system in difficult times
  Today, June 2, the Minister of Social Affairs Hanno Pevkur pays a bilateral visit to the WHO Regional Office for Europe in Copenhagen. Minister signs the agreement wherewith WHO supports Estonia with experts and collaborative projects.
  
  
   
  
   
  
  

• Experts concluded that Estonian medicines policy takes into account patients´ perspective
  Today, May 22, the representatives of the Ministry of Social Affairs together with the experts of WHO and key stakeholders in the medical sector in Estonia gathered to discuss a review of the pharmaceutical sector prepared by WHO Europe with support of the London School of Economics. The recommendations to develop further medicines policy were examined. The experts concluded that overall and in view of the challenges and constraints mentioned Estonia has succeeded in implementing a pharmaceutical policy that largely meets the needs of patients and is in line with other European countries, but there are concerns about the substantial out-of-pocket payments for medicines by patients.
  
  

• Wise solutions will ensure the long term vitality to health system
  Today (April 3, 2009) Estonian health care leaders, doctors and representatives of interest groups together with international experts of the WHO gather to discuss on the sustainability of health financing system in Estonia. The Estonian Health Insurance Fund together with Ministry of Social Affairs started the analysis to explore policy options for the health financing system in responding to the changing economic and fiscal contexts. The seminar launched the process of analysis with the objective to produce the report on the long terms sustainability of health financing system in Estonia. WHO Regional Office for Europe provides technical support to the ongoing process.
  
  

• Experts conclude the key to improve the situation in environment and health area is in strategic collaboration across sectors
  The Ministry of Social Affairs in collaboration with the WHO Regional Office for Europe launched the environment and health performance review in a two-day seminar in Tallinn on February 17-18, 2009. Participating national and international experts joined their efforts to map and define most important areas of concern and to find solutions to the problems in the area of environment and health. As a result, a common understanding was reached that the key to improve situation in environmental and health lies in increased and strategic collaboration of all sectors.
  
  

  2008

  
  

• European ministers sign groundbreaking charter on health systems: New charter brings equity, performance and accountability to health sector
  Ministers of health from the 53 countries of the WHO European Region today signed a new charter on health systems, committing themselves to concrete and measurable action on strengthening health systems that will allow both their own people and the international community to hold them to account. Full press release: Copenhagen, Tallinn, 27 June 2008 (pdf)
  The Tallinn Charter: Health Systems for Health and Wealth (pdf, 2MB)
  
  
   

• Breakthrough in public health debate at ministerial conference
  Ministers at the Conference in Tallinn emphasized that a good health system is not for affluent countries alone but fundamental to the prosperity of all. The Conference is providing a platform for often sensitive and politically charged issues, such as equitable access to health care, transparent health financing and accountability for public health spending. Press release: Copenhagen, Tallinn, 26 June 2008 (pdf)
  
   
   

• European health ministers meet to focus on link between health and economic success
  This week ministers of health, international experts, and over 500 delegates from 53 European countries meet in Tallinn at the WHO European Ministerial Conference on Health Systems: "Health Systems, Health and Wealth" to examine the link between health and economic success, and discuss a new paradigm for health systems." Press release: Copenhagen, Tallinn, 23 June 2008 (pdf)
   

• Analysing Estonia’s health system for further improving its performance
  Estonia has recognized that a healthier population is a key asset for achieving economic growth. It is therefore investing in further improving the performance of Estonia’s health system. This is one of the conclusions drawn from a new health system review on Estonia. Estonia’s Minister of Social Affairs, Maret Maripuu, and the WHO Deputy Regional Director for Europe, Nata Menabde, will launch this newest review during the WHO European Ministerial Conference on Health Systems on 25 June at 17:30 (Blue Hall at the Conference venue). Full press release (pdf)
  
  
   

• From June 13th 2008, The National Library of Estonia is presenting the publications exhibition dedicated to WHO 60th anniversary and WHO Ministerial Conference on Health Systems in 2008. The exhibition is open in 6th Floor Law and International Organisations Reading Room until August 22nd and is prepared in co-operation with WHO Country Office in Estonia.
   

• Some health systems in Europe use financial incentives for hospitals and specialist physicians linked to process and outcome indicators of performance in an attempt to improve health gain. This is called paying for performance (P4P). Can Estonia’s health system reward value for money and improved quality in hospital and other specialized care and, if so, how? These questions are discussed in a WHO report launched today: Payment for performance (P4P): international experience and a cautionary proposal for Estonia. The report advises caution in undertaking P4P but says that it can offer good value for taxpayers and the users of health services. Full press release (pdf)
   

• Estonia has experienced a sharp increase in the number of people living with HIV since 2000 and has launched various initiatives at the community and national policy levels in response. To assess the current situation, the effects of the response, areas for improvement and further priorities, a comprehensive external evaluation was recently conducted. Full press release (pdf).
   

• This year marks the 60th anniversary of WHO with the headline - our health, our future. This special occasion presents WHO with an opportunity to look back to achievements in global public health over the last 60 years, demonstrate the impact of WHO's work and address challenges for the future. Please read more in WHO HQ web.
  
   

2007

• The WHO Regional Office for Europe (WHO/Europe) is organizing a photograph competition to showcase contemporary images of health systems in the WHO European Region. The Regional Office invites photographers to submit their photographs offering an interpretation of health systems today. Applications are welcome from 1 December 2007, and must be sent by 31 March 2008. More information on photo contest can be found here. This competition supports the WHO European Ministerial Conference on Health Systems: “Health Systems, Health and Wealth”, organized by WHO/Europe and hosted by the Government of Estonia, taking place in Tallinn on 25-27 June 2008.
   

• On September 16th the Minister of Social Affairs of Estonia and WHO Regional Director Dr Marc Danzon signed the Biennial Collaborative Agreement during WHO Regional Committee. The Biennial Collaborative Agreement is a formal agreement between the Regional Office and a Member State on strategic collaboration for the next two years.
   

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• On 29 and 30 August, ministers of health and senior decision-makers from the Baltic countries, together with international experts, will meet in Pärnu, Estonia. They will to look into how governance can enhance access to and the efficiency and quality of health care, how to maintain financial sustainability in health systems, and how to ensure accountability in this sector from the political, financial and performance perspectives. Note for press (pdf)
   

• Estonia to host World Health Organization ministerial conference in 2008 (pdf)
• Health Systems 2008 web