Health Technology Management Workshop, Tartu, Estonia

On the way back to the States after the ACEW in Moscow and consulting in China, I stopped off in Tartu, Estonia. Al Jakniunas was to represent ACCE at a meeting to explore means for healthcare technology support in the Baltics. Unfortunately, Al took ill in Russia. Fortunately, I was able to juggle my schedule a bit to fill in for Al. What were one more stop and a few days anyway?

I think the trip to Estonia was successful. There was agreement to establish a Baltic Cooperative on Technology Support. They are looking forward to having an ACEW some time next spring to be held in either Lithuania or Latvia. They will have a meeting in Helsinki in January to further organize this.

I'm sorry Al Jakniunas could not be there. I am certain that his knowledge of Baltic culture would have been very helpful.

I have a copy of the agreement reach in Tartu and will mail it to anyone who requests and provides an address. A summary of the conclusions from the meeting is included below.

WHO proposed a pilot project in management of medical technology to the Baltic States. The proposal was discussed in a workshop in Tartu on 20-21 September 1999.

The workshop was supported by the WHO Headquarters in Geneva, WHO Collaborating Centre for Essential Technologies in Health, Nordmedtek, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health of Finland, the International Federation of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering (IFMBE) and the American College of Clinical Engineering (ACCE)

The countries of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania were present as the WHO pilot project owners. Minister of Social Affairs of Estonia Eiki Nestor sent a greeting to the workshop.

The following conclusions were reached:

  1. The representatives of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania stated the necessity of closer cooperation in the management of medical technology at the country and hospital level. The meeting accepted the WHO proposal and decided to organize the proposed project.
  2. The parties will together form a management group to plan and realize the project. Each country will nominate two members. The members will be nominated within one month of signing the document.
  3. During the meeting the parties began co-operation in the following tasks:
    • management of medical technology
    • education and training
    • legislation
  4. The organization of the project was also discussed.
  5. The next meeting will be held in January 2000 in Helsinki, Finland.

Bob Morris

Email: morris@ohsu.edu