To support the provision of health services in North Macedonia, the WHO representative to the country, Dr Anne Johansen, visited the State University of Tetovo School of Medicine. While meeting the students, Dr Johansen presented the work of WHO, explained the Organization’s structure, and answered questions. She took the opportunity to listen to the future doctors talking about their needs now, as well as their ideas and hopes for the future.
“We are here to meet with you, the future doctors, soon to join the health-care system of the country. WHO supports your work through meaningful, well-planned and tailored actions,” she emphasized. Such visits enable Dr Johansen to make informed decisions on WHO’s work in North Macedonia and identify areas of collaboration to strengthen the country’s planning of human resources for health.
Over 28 years, the State University of Tetovo has become pivotal to the success of the first Albanian language higher-education hub in the area. It is 1 of 3 universities in the country that provide medical education, with 4000 students enrolled in general practice, dentistry, midwifery, nursing and pharmacy. The School of Medicine has plans to introduce studies in further specialities, and its intake represents a third of the total number of students enrolled at the university.
The way forward
Outlined at the meeting were possible areas of collaboration with WHO in the future:
- lecturing in health systems operation
- training
- joint research projects
- visits to the WHO country office by students
- brain-gain initiatives
- focus groups with students
- conferences and roundtables on various topics
- collaboration with economics professors in the area of health economics.