GPH hosts Health Bridge Project’s First Annual Onsite Meeting
The Health Bridge project held its first annual onsite meeting in Stockholm, bringing together partners from Sweden, Ukraine, and Latvia. The gathering marked a key step in strengthening regional cooperation amid ongoing geopolitical and health system challenges. Discussions highlighted the growing importance of health diplomacy and academic collaboration across the Baltic Sea Region and Eastern Europe.
The Health Bridge project, funded by the Swedish Institute, convened its first annual onsite meeting in Stockholm, marking a significant milestone in advancing cross‑regional collaboration between the Baltic Sea Region and Eastern Europe. Hosted by Tobias Alfvén and Nina Viberg at the Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, the meeting welcomed visiting partners from Ukraine and Latvia, including Olesya Hulchiy, Kostyantyn Balashov, Ingrida Rumba‑Rozenfelde, and Sanita Oklu.
The day opened with a high‑level dialogue featuring representatives from Swedish authorities and diplomatic institutions, including Maria Mollergren from the National Board of Health and Welfare, Kristin Ivarsson Lantz from the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs, Camilla Wristel from the Swedish Institute, and Anastasiia Nabokova from the Embassy of Ukraine in Sweden. Participants discussed strategic opportunities to strengthen cooperation in light of current geopolitical tensions and evolving health system needs.
A formal presentation of the Health Bridge project followed, leading to a strategic discussion on opportunities to strengthen Baltic–Eastern European cooperation in the context of current geopolitical and health system challenges.
In the afternoon, the seminar “Introduction to Health Diplomacy: Building a Healthier and Safer Region Amid Conflict and Uncertainty” brought together experts onsite and online. Contributions from Anders Nordström, Michel Kazatchkine, Olesya Hulchiy, Ingrida Rumba‑Rozenfelde, and Sanita Oklu sparked dynamic discussions on the role of health diplomacy, emergency preparedness, and knowledge exchange between Ukraine and EU countries.
The discussions generated strong engagement among participants, both in the room and online. Key themes included the evolving role of health diplomacy, the potential for expanding academic collaboration, and the importance of intensive knowledge exchange between Ukraine and EU countries. Particular attention was given to strengthening preparedness for emergencies and war, as well as to the role of academic networks in translating experience into actionable policy insights.
The meeting confirmed the growing relevance of health diplomacy as a platform for cooperation, capacity building, and evidence-informed decision-making in an increasingly complex and uncertain global environment.
The outcomes of the meeting will guide the continued development of Health Bridge as a regional hub for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and policy‑oriented research.
The project is implemented by a consortium of academic partners:
- Karolinska Institutet: Tobias Alfvén and Nina Viberg
- Bogomolets National Medical University, Ukraine: Olesya Hulchiy
- National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine: Kostyantyn Balashov
- University of Latvia: Ingrida Rumba‑Rozenfelde and Sanita Oklu
The project is funded by the Swedish Institute.