Cross-border cooperation in subnational settings discussed at the 17th Public Health World Congress in Rome - ISS-G20 Laboratorium Repository

During the 17th Public Health World Congress in Rome, held 2–5 May, participants discussed how borders affect people’s access to health care services near their homes. The WHO Regions for Health Network (RHN) brought together representatives from different regions and institutions – including the Healthacross Initiative, Cross-border Institute of Healthcare Systems and Prevention (CBI) and euPrevent Foundation – to consider current developments as well as lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. The main result was to show how borders still represent a significant obstacle to addressing the health needs of people living close by, and to showcase examples of how to confront these issues. 

Approximately 1 in 3 European citizens live in a cross-border region. These regions often share common economic, cultural, and social ties, and individuals should be able to seek health care services across borders when needed. Enhancing cross-border collaboration can improve health care accessibility, reduce disparities, and strengthen the overall health outcomes of these populations.

Entire content available on: https://www.who.int/europe/news/item/14-06-2023-cross-border-cooperation-in-subnational-settings-discussed-at-the-17th-public-health-world-congress-in-rome