Representatives of the University of Tartu and the World Health Organization discussed cooperation opportunities

On 17 and 18 September, Dr Hans Kluge, the Regional Director for Europe of the World Health Organization (WHO), visited Estonia and the University of Tartu. On Wednesday, he visited Biomedicum to meet the Rector of the University of Tartu, Professor Toomas Asser and representatives of the Faculty of Medicine to discuss how the university could become Estonia’s first WHO collaboration centre in Estonia.  

WHO currently has over 800 collaboration centres operating in over 80 member countries, focusing on occupational health, communicable diseases, nutrition, mental health, chronic diseases and health technologies. When setting up a centre, it is first necessary to identify the area of collaboration. In discussion with representatives of the Faculty of Medicine, the parties concluded that the focus of a collaboration centre at the University of Tartu could be, for example, on antibiotic resistance, andrology or diseases at the beginning and end of the life span. The University of Tartu Institute of Family Medicine and Public Health has previously worked with the WHO on developing a methodology for compiling clinical guidelines in Estonia. 

Hans Kluge’s first term as the WHO Regional Director for Europe will end this year. At the meeting, he underlined that also during his next term, he wants to keep the focus on issues important to him: antimicrobial resistance, the impact of climate change on human health, gender equality and ageing.  

Sander Pajusalu, Vice Dean for Development of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Tartu, described the meeting as a working and practical discussion where it was not difficult to find ways for cooperation. “It is a pleasure to see that some of the University of Tartu’s development trends align with the WHO priorities, for example, creating the Centre for Sustainable Development or developing the methodology for preparing the guidelines,” said Pajusalu.  

Maris Laan, Vice Dean for Research at the Faculty of Medicine, added that when the collaboration centre is established, the next step will be to hold joint discussions and identify the health topics in which the university has unique top-level expertise in Europe.  

In a public lecture delivered at Biomedicum after the meeting, Hans Kluge underlined the importance of making the healthcare system more resilient and increasing public trust and equality. Kluge spoke in more detail about the WHO and Europe’s priorities which help achieve these goals. He also reminded the audience of the importance of a healthy lifestyle and stressed that health-related expenses are a worthwhile investment.  

After the lecture, Professor Pille Taba and Professor Joel Starkopf gave the WHO team a tour of the Tartu University Hospital, the simulation centre and the Children’s Clinic.  

From the University of Tartu, Toomas Asser, Maris Laan, Sander Pajusalu, Eero Vasar, Anti Kalda, Reet Mändar, Paul Naaber, Kalle Kisand, Alan Altraja, Kristiina Rull, Hans Orru, Urmeli Katus, Mariliis Põld, Priit Kaasik, Ülle Voog-Oras, Ivo Laidmäe and Daisy Volmer participated in the meeting. The WHO representatives besides Hans Kluge were Kristina Köhler, Anu Rumm, Benedicte Galichet, Alihan Berdiyev and Sally McMillan.