In the period from November 1-3, 2018, the third scientific symposium “Days of preventive medicine in the Republic of Macedonia 2018″ was held with international participation, in the hotel Drim, Struga. The Symposium was organized by the five associations in the area of prevention: the Association of Doctors Specialists in Hygiene and Health Ecology, the Specialist Association of Physicians of Social Medicine with organization of healthcare, the Association of Microbiologists of Macedonia, the Association of Epidemiologists of the Republic of Macedonia and the Association of doctors in occupational medicine. The Symposium is accredited by the Doctors Chamber of the Republic of Macedonia and the Macedonian Medical Association.
At the opening ceremony, an introductory speech was held by: The President of the Association of Epidemiologists of the Republic of Macedonia, Prim. Dr. Gordana Kuzmanovska, the Dean of the Medical Faculty, Skopje, prof. Dr. Beti Zafirova Ivanovska, representative of the Macedonian Medical Association, Dr. Dimitar Arnaudov and the Director of the Institute of Public Health of the Republic of Macedonia, Ass. Dr. Shaban Memeti. The working part of the event began with the plenary lecture of Dr. Marija Kishman, who spoke about the defined priorities of the World Health Organization for the European Region and the modern tools for their resolution. She also presented results from the research on factors and barriers to adherence to the prescribed therapy in patients on chronic medical therapy in the Republic of Macedonia.
At the symposium, five intersectoral sessions were held in two days, with the following topics: public health aspects of chronic non-communicable diseases, injuries and violence, prevention and control of infectious diseases and immunization, health of the population and the environment, developments in microbiology, preventing workers’ health. Within the sessions, 20 public health topics were presented and 37 poster presentations. Also, the departments of the preventive branches at the Medical Faculty in Skopje and the teachers from the Medical faculty in Stip, the Medical Faculty in Novi Sad gave a scientific contribution to the symposium.
130 doctors specialists from the preventive branches participated at the symposium, as well as doctors who are in the process of specialization of preventive branches, postgraduate students or doctoral studies in public health.
The Institute of Public Health, as the highest-ranking institution in the field of preventive health care in the country, contributed to the successful completion of this event. Through its representatives in the Organizational and Scientific Committee, The Institute of Public Health participated in the entire course of preparations for maintaining and raising the level of quality of this Symposium. Also, within the active participation, a number of authors of quality copyright works presented the work done in the past period. Presented results from practical work, conducted studies, current conditions and undertaken measures and activities on national as well as international level, through cooperation and participation in various bodies, working groups, networks and boards of international institutions concerning the disease prevention. With this, our institution makes a significant contribution to the promotion of public health.
This symposium was evaluated by the organizers and participants as very successful, in terms of good organization and excellent choice of lecturers presenting current topics in the field of preventive medicine.
At the closing, conclusions were defined, among which the traditional character of the symposium should be maintained, strengthened with the participation of experts in the field of public health from the region and beyond.
Also, it is necessary for policy makers to hear the burning public health problems that have an impact on the increased rate of infectious and non-communicable diseases, and to take into account the findings and results of the research, as well as the reliable scientific evidence based on facts in the construction of future policies and implementation of activities, are aimed at improving the health and extending the life expectancy of the population of the Republic of Macedonia.
