On 10–12 May ministers and other delegates from the 11 countries in the WHO European Region with populations of 2 million or less inhabitants will meet in Luxembourg for the Ninth High-level Meeting of the Small Countries Initiative (SCI).
Small countries share many characteristics in terms of political context, economic features and resource capacity, and these characteristics inevitably have an impact on their health systems and policies. Each year the high-level meeting provides an opportunity to discuss health agendas and joint activities, and to leverage small countries’ common needs at regional and international levels.
Opening of the meeting
The event will begin with an opening ceremony, which will be live-streamed from this page with the following speakers:
- Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe
- Xavier Bettel, Prime Minister of Luxembourg
- Paulette Lenert, Minister of Health of Luxembourg.
Meeting objectives
The Ninth High-level Meeting is a special occasion, marking the 10th anniversary of the SCI and the first phase of implementation of the “Roadmap towards better health in small countries in the WHO European Region, 2022–2025”, endorsed at the Eighth High-level Meeting. The Ninth High-level Meeting will focus on how best to accelerate the health and well-being agenda and to leverage cooperation among small countries. Its proposed themes are:
- advancing health equity and well-being;
- accelerating action to tackle noncommunicable diseases and mental health at the community level;
- leveraging digital transformation in small countries;
- globalizing the SCI;
- reporting back on progress made on human resources for health and healthy tourism;
- improving accessibility, availability and affordability of medicines.
The meeting will be hosted by the Ministry of Health of Luxembourg. It will last for 1.5 days, starting with a reception on the evening of 10 May 2023.
The Small Countries Initiative
Established in 2013, the SCI is a platform through which 11 countries in the Region with populations of two million or less work together to share their experiences and achieve their common health objectives.
The countries in the SCI are: Andorra, Cyprus, Estonia, Iceland, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, San Marino and Slovenia.