Healthy Societies [Parallel Session 2, POLICY ANSWERS Conf. 2023 Sarajevo]

Group of Speakers:

• Jasmina Knezevic, Founder and Supervisory Board Member of Acibadem Bel Medic, Serbia
• Laura Marin, Coordinator, European Partnership: One Health – Antimicrobial Resistance (OHAMR), Sweden
• Emmi Weller, Policy Officer, European Health Management Association, Belgium
• Vukasin Radulovic, President of Healthcare Alliance, Heliant, Serbia
• Adam Strzelecki, EIT-Food Senior Project Manager, European Partnership: EIT-Food, Poland

Moderator: Marija Jevtic, Professor, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Serbia

Summing up the first session on healthy societies, a panel of renowned interdisciplinary experts shared their views towards healthy societies. Jasmina Knezevic noted that the work-life balance of medical workers is something that is still not being considered enough. “We could see that during the pandemic, especially among nurses and doctors who are now feeling the consequences of the stress they have been through,” Knezevic said.

In a fruitful discussion, it was once again emphasised that the health sector has to keep up with the technological advancements while keeping the well-being of healthcare workers in mind. Additionally, by comparing the health sector in the Western Balkans with that of the European Union and elsewhere, the panel also underlined the need for the alignment, improvement and implementation of changes in policies.

Marija Jevtic noted that “knowledge exchange is a key factor, as the public, personal and environmental health are inseparable.”