On 30–31 October, Daugavpils hosted a practical seminar titled “Organisation of a Practical Seminar on the Development of a Health Monitoring Methodology and Cross-Border working Model”, which brought together public health specialists from Latvia and Lithuania.
The event gathered health professionals, municipal representatives, and experts from Lithuania who shared their experience, analysed current public health challenges, and worked in groups to develop a new cross-border cooperation model. The main goal of the seminar was to create a unified approach to public health monitoring methodology and to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in data analysis, information exchange, and health promotion.
Participants discussed the principles of public health monitoring methodology, the importance of lifestyle and behavioural data, the surveillance of chronic diseases and risk factors, as well as issues of data quality and accessibility. Special attention was given to promoting citizen involvement in health monitoring and to the role of digital solutions in integrating health and environmental data into a single system.
During the seminar, the strengths and weaknesses of the Latvian and Lithuanian health systems were analysed, possible improvements were discussed, and proposals for introducing joint indicators in the future were developed. The event fostered a shared understanding of health monitoring, encouraged experience exchange among professionals, and strengthened cross-border cooperation in the field of public health.
Participants emphasized that effective health policy is based on prevention, a well-organized data system, and active community engagement, which together form the foundation for sustainable results and improved public well-being.
