Eleventh high-level meeting of the Small Countries Initiative: a focus on innovation, Bled, Slovenia, 11–13 May 2025

Overview

The Eleventh high-level meeting of the Small Countries Initiative (SCI), held in Bled, Slovenia, on 11–13 May 2025, brought together 14 countries and 82 participants, among whom were seven ministers of health from small countries in the WHO European Region and beyond. The meeting sought to align priorities with WHO’s forthcoming Second European Programme of Work 2026–2030 (EPW2) and to focus on innovation as a cross-cutting enabler for health system transformation. Personalized and preventive care, technological innovation, decarbonization of health systems, sustainable health financing and community empowerment were the key strategic themes discussed. Participants shared national experiences, identified joint priorities and discussed operational support needed from WHO. Highlights included a presentation on the draft SCI impact report, showing the Initiative’s progress from 2021 to 2024; input from small countries on EPW2 priorities; progress on health workforce development and access to medicines, and the signing of the Slovenia Statement. The meeting reinforced the SCI’s role as a collaborative platform for amplifying small countries’ voices in regional and global health agendas – fostering equity, resilience and innovation in public health.