Project Summary
The population of the cross-border area faces significant health challenges, especially in remote areas and areas of concentration of special populations. There is a clear need to: Improve access to primary and emergency medical care in isolated and socially disadvantaged communities in the cross-border area. The project includes activities to invest in health and social infrastructure to improve the delivery of health services, including emergency services assistance, as well as the promotion of cooperation between regional, local and health authorities and organizations, in order to share resources and expertise in the field of health, and to develop joint trans- border plans and staff exchange programs and information resources from the competent health structures and emergency centers in the cross-border area. The project focuses on the needs and measures to be taken to improve the provision of health services, in emergency services as well as more effective prevention of socially important diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer risk, diabetes, etc., in areas with restricted access to highly specialized medical activities across the cross-border region through the introduction of mobile medical offices, mobile telemedicine service equipment, and joint training of medical staff of health authorities in the emergency medical system with a focus on the use of telemedicine and joint action plans Emergency Situations and Protocols in Crisis Situations.
The target area for the project is in Blagoevgrad and Central Macedonia (Thessaloniki) respectively the territory (s) with the most deprived and isolated communities (target groups) covering 54 remote settlements on the territory of Lagadas municipality and Halkidona municipality in Greece and on the territory of Blagoevgrad District comprising 14 municipalities, 96 mayoralties and 280 remote settlements (settlements).
The main objective of the project is to improve the accessibility and quality of medical services to the population in restricted areas and vulnerable populations in order to increase the capacity and effectiveness of the primary care system for better territorial and social coverage for deprived from high quality health services and isolated communities (areas). Increasing cross-border connectivity and mobility.
The successful implementation of the project will provide mobile medical equipment for the project partners, incl. supply of mobile units for mobile health services and specialized equipment for telemedicine in remote border areas, incl. technical and laboratory equipment. Prophylactic examinations for publicly significant diseases for 500 people in cross-border areas are planned.
Project activities focus on actions that promote the quality and efficiency of value-added primary health services and activities such as telemedicine and mobile health services, enhancing cooperation capacities, efficiency and effectiveness for emergency response in the cross-border area, and increased access to healthcare for vulnerable groups (specific to cross-border areas) and / or residents of hard-to-reach border areas.
The expected tangible (increased capacity) and visible results (facilitated access for vulnerable groups) of the RES project Blagoevgrad are:
Increasing the operational capacity and effectiveness of the primary healthcare system, which is reflected in a better territorial and social coverage:
Improving the quality and effectiveness of primary health care for the most deprived areas;
Enhanced access to healthcare for vulnerable groups in disadvantaged areas with high cross-border mobility;
Delivery of 1 pc. Mobile unit for healthcare with mobile medical equipment and apparatus;
Delivery of 1 pc. telemedicine equipment;
Delivery of 1 pc. car;
Delivery of 14 information kiosks for presentation of information on primary health services in Blagoevgrad District (located in remote areas of 14 municipalities);
Delivery of laboratory equipment for RHI;
Organization of 1 bulk seminar for capacity building in the Blagoevgrad region, topic “Telemedicine” with representatives of the project partners, MHAT in the region, mayors, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works, Decentralized Administration Thessaloniki;
production and distribution of promotional materials and media publications on the project;
a program for training of personnel resources at Papageorgiou Hospital for representatives of the project partners from Bulgaria:
1 piece. training modules on telemedicine for partners from CEMC-Blagoevgrad;
1 unit of training modules on the “Emergency Response Plan and Protocols in Crisis Situations” for the partners from the Center for Refugees in Blagoevgrad.
Conducting preventive examinations for publicly significant diseases for 500 people in cross-border areas;
Sustainability of the project
Etc