Let's use our collective wisdom, respond to common challenges in the region, and raise standards of health systems and delivery of healthcare services on the basis of past achievements, said Health Minister Nikola Todorov in Monday's address at the 63. Annual Session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe, MIA reports from Cesme, Turkey.

"Republic of Macedonia takes into consideration strategy Health 2020 and its development monitoring system when preparing our new Operational Health Plan 2020. Through the World Health Organization's support, we have already joined the strategy's operations for non-contagious diseases and the Operational Plan", Minister Todorov told the forum.

According to him, the swift development of the healthcare landscape and increasing expectations by patients has resulted in enhancement of the human potential in the sector, through training of staff both on-the-job and abroad.

"Other reforms include the methodology of determining medicine prices and procurement of state-of-the-art equipment", added Todorov.

He said the reconstruction of hospitals was ongoing, as well as construction of new health facilities.

"In addition, the project for introduction of a national e-system for scheduling of patient check-ups and interventions, and the e-system for registering health data are ongoing", said Todorov.

On Sunday, Todorov met with Turkish counterpart Mehmet Muezzinoglu, agreeing on the development of a project on Turkish-Macedonian health week.

Moreover, Minister Todorov and WHO Europe Regional Office Director Zsuzsanna Jakab signed a cooperation agreement between the Health Ministry and the WHO Europe Regional Office 2014-2015. Republic of Macedonia is the first country in Europe to sign such an agreement with the WHO. The agreement stipulates funds in the amount of EUR 660,000-700,000 as technical assistance in the implementation of health policies.