Public health training and research collaboration in South Eastern Europe.

The health care systems in South Eastern Europe are characterized by a predominantly curative orientation. During the last decade public health became insufficient due to war as well as economic and political changes. Today there is a lack of competence in public health above all in health management and strategy development, but also in the fields of health surveillance and prevention. The great need for a sustainable collaboration and support in advanced training and continuous education of qualified professionals to reach required conditions was recognized. Therefore, the project for the development of training modules and research capabilities in public health in South Eastern European countries (SEE) was proposed to the Stability Pact (PH-SEE Project). The project is to support the reconstruction of postgraduate public health training through development of teaching materials in English for the Internet. A regional network of lecturers in the health sciences will be established. The up to date texts should be of international standard but also be of regional specificity.