Photo: Professor Tit Albreht, organiser of the conference
Ljubljana, Slovenia – 9 January 2018
A workshop to discuss “Cancer Policy in Small States” was organized within the framework of the EU project “SMSHealth.eu - European Integration, Small States and Health” which is technically coordinated by the University of Malta. The project is a joint collaboration between the Institute for European Studies, the Islands and Small States Institute and the Department of Health Management.
The event was held at the National Institute of Public Health in Ljubljana (Slovenia) on 9 January, 2018 and the University of Malta was represented by Dr Natasha Azzopardi Muscat (Senior Lecturer Health Management) and Dr Gianpaolo Tomaselli (Research Support Officer).
The workshop was addressed by experts on cancer policy from each of the country partners (namely Estonia, Iceland, Malta, Netherlands, and Slovenia). Dr Miriam Dalmas, coordinator of the first and second national cancer plans in Malta described how cancer policy has been developed and implemented in Malta over the past decade.
During the workshop it was highlighted that small EU States are facing several challenges including funding, retention of quality human resources and access to highly specialised expertise in the implementation of cancer policy. They are therefore dependent on cooperation and alliances with other countries. Despite their weaknesses small EU states are strong in governing and managing the whole health system; they are more flexible, quicker, responsive and open to influence and ideas from other countries.
Slovenia has taken a leading role in developing cancer policy at EU level, leading the Joint Action Projects EPAAC and CANCON illustrating how small states are playing an important role in shaping health policy at EU level.
Presentations from the workshop will become available on the .
