Invitation

The Ministry of Health of Latvia is honored to invite you to participate in the high-level conference HEALTHCARE HUMAN RESOURCES CRISIS: SMALL COUNTRIES FACING FUTURE RISKS on April 11, 2025. The objective of the conference is to emphasize the strategic importance of human resources in the healthcare sector and highlight the need to prioritize these issues, to effectively address both current and future challenges in healthcare human resources. Given that health is the foundation of our daily well-being, it is essential that investments and development in this sector are a priority at both the national and healthcare institution levels, as well as for all stakeholders – from policymakers and healthcare professionals to the general public and experts. This conference offers an opportunity to foster valuable discussions, strengthen cooperation in healthcare matters, promote the exchange of best practices, and advance the development of the healthcare system, as well as strengthen human resource policies. The conference will feature discussions with experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), as well as health ministers and representatives from the Baltic states and other European small countries. During the discussions, participants will have the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the international challenges of securing human resources, particularly in the context of healthcare workforce planning, recruitment, and retention in Latvia. The role of employers and the work environment in promoting staff well-being in the workplace will also be explored. The next steps for healthcare human resources will be discussed in relation to key documents such as the WHO Bucharest Declaration and the WHO Regional Office for Europe report “Health and Care Workforce in Europe: Time to Act”, as well as the Latvian Health Minister’s approved “Health Workforce Development Strategy from 2025 to 2029”. Draft Program: A draft of the conference program is attached (the content may be subject to change). Event and Registration Information: Date and Time: April 11, 2025, from 08:00 to 17:30 Location: Radisson Blu Hotel & SPA Daugava, Kuģu iela 24, Riga Conference languages: Latvian and English (with simultaneous interpretation) Registration: We invite each organization/institution to register no more than two representatives for in-person participation, while an unlimited number of participants can join remotely. The conference will be broadcast on the Ministry of Health’s website and Facebook page. A link to the live stream will be sent to registered participants prior to the start of the conference. Please confirm your participation by the end of the day on March 24th, using the following registration link. Your participation will be invaluable in addressing shared challenges, fostering meaningful cooperation, and shaping tangible solutions to strengthen healthcare systems across the region. For any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Senior Expert of the Sectoral Human Resources Development Division, Laura Vanaga (e-mail: [email protected]. lv). We look forward to welcoming you to Riga! Saatja: "Laura Vanaga" <[email protected]> Saaja: [email protected] Teema: 03.02.2025 Nr. 01-19.2/601 "Invitation to High-level Conference: "Healthcare Workforce Crisis: Small Countries Facing Future Risks" on April 11, 2025" Kuupäev: 2025-03-03 18:54 Tähelepanu! Tegemist on välisvõrgust saabunud kirjaga. Tundmatu saatja korral palume linke ja faile mitte avada. Tähelepanu! Tegemist on välisvõrgust saabunud kirjaga. Tundmatu saatja korral palume linke ja faile mitte avada. Dear Colleagues, Following the previously sent information and invitation to reserve time in your schedule for the high-level conference "The Healthcare Workforce Crisis: Small States Facing Future Risks," which will take place on April 11 this year, we are providing additional details and the draft agenda, which are attached to this email. We would be delighted to have Minister join the Ministerial Panel Discussion, as your insights and expertise would be invaluable to the conversation on this critical topic. Your participation in the panel would not only enrich the discussion but also contribute to shaping meaningful solutions for the future. We kindly ask you to confirm your participation in the panel at your earliest convenience. Please let us know if we can provide any further details or assistance. Accommodation Options for Participants For your convenience, we are pleased to offer a special accommodation rate at Radisson Blu Hotel & SPA Daugava, the venue of the conference. To take advantage of the exclusive accommodation offer, please use the Promo Code: VESMIN when making a reservation. <https://www.vm.gov.lv/sites/vm/files/media_file/vmlogo_signature.png> Regards Laura Vanaga Senior Expert Sectoral Human Resources Development Division Ministry of Health of the Republic of Latvia +371 60002017 http://www.vm.gov.lv <http://www.vm.gov.lv/> Brīvības iela 72 k-1, Rīga, LV-1011, Latvija Šī vēstule ir paredzēta tikai personai vai personu grupai, kurai tā ir adresēta. Šī e-pasta vēstule ir konfidenciāla, un var saturēt juridiski aizsargātu informāciju. Ja neesat šīs vēstules paredzētais adresāts, paziņojam, ka vēstuli esat saņēmis kļūdas rezultātā, un pilnīga vai daļēja iepazīšanās ar tās saturu, vēstules izmantošana vai tālāka izplatīšana jebkādā veidā ir stingri aizliegta. Ja esat saņēmis šo vēstuli kļūdas dēļ, lūdzu sazinieties ar sūtītāju, nosūtot atbildes e-pasta vēstuli, pēc tam nekavējoties vēstuli izdzēsiet (ieskaitot visus pielikumus). This e-mail is intended only for the person or group of people to whom it is addressed. This message is confidential and may contain legally privileged information. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that you have received this message in error and that reading it, copying it, or in any way disclosing its content to any other person, is strictly unauthorized. If you have received this message in error, please inform the sender by replying to this e-mail and then immediately delete this e-mail (including any attachments). The high-level conference HEALTHCARE HUMAN RESOURCES CRISIS: Small Countries Facing Future Risks on April 11, 2025. Venue: Radisson Blu Hotel & SPA Daugava, Kuģu iela 24, Riga Conference Language: Latvian and English with interpretation. Agenda: TIME SPEAKER TOPIC 8:00-9:00 Registration and coffee break 9:00-9:30 Prime Minister of Latvia Conference Opening Evika Siliņa (TBC) Minister of Health of Latvia Hosams Abu Meri Regional Director for Europe, WHO Dr. Hans Kluge Head of the Health Division, Employment situation in the 9:30-10:30 OECD healthcare sector in a European context Francesca Colombo Minister of Economics Current employment situation and of Latvia workforce alignment with future Viktors Valainis labor market needs – healthcare as a strategic priority in national employment policy (TBC) Junior EU Policy Advisor, Healthcare deserts and human CPME resources crisis in the EU Dimitri Eerens 10:30-10:50 Coffee break 10:50-11:50 President, European Junior Small countries, big challenges: Doctors Association recruitment and retention through Alvaro Cerame Junior Doctors' eyes European Federation (TBC) of Nurses Associations Nurse, Personal stories: life of healthcare Junior Doctor, workers Experienced Doctor 11:50-12:50 Ministers of Health of Small Ministerial panel discussion: States or their Delegated Experiences and challenges of Representatives small countries (TBC) 13:00-14:15 Lunch break 14:15-15:15 Head of the Health Health workforce crisis everywhere - Workforce and Service What can we do? Delivery Unit, WHO/Europe Tomas Zapata Latvian Employers' Employer opportunities, solutions Confederation Kaspars Gorkšs Chairman of Latvian Health Healthcare Human Resources and Social Care in Latvia – Problems and Solutions Workers' Trade Union Valdis Keris Head of Human Resources Healthcare workforce in Latvia – Development, challenges and solutions Health Ministry of Health workforce development strategy Kristīne Kļaviņa 2025 - 2029 15:15-15:30 Q&A 15:30-15:55 Coffee break 15:55-17:05 Ministers of Health of Ministerial panel discussion: Countries or their Healthcare human resources crisis – Delegated Representatives what will we do tomorrow? (TBC) 17:05-17:30 Closing remarks