German Medical Association Federation of the German Chambers of Physicians The Symposium of the Central and Eastern European Chambers of Physicians - ZEVA - Appraisal and future ideas Domen Podnar© Bundesärztekammer 2011

2 Agenda  What is the Symposium about?  What are the benefits for the chambers?  Future possibilities?  A website for the symposium

3 The Symposium of Central and Eastern European Chambers of Physicians - ZEVA Why was it established?  To strengthen the identity of physicians in this region  To allow exchange between chambers at an informal event  To ensure an exchange of experiences  To strengthen the idea of self-governance  To support chambers in EU and non-EU countries  To draw attention to the “community” of self-governance in the country where it takes place  To discuss chamber specific issues and challenges

4 Advantages of the Symposium for the German Medical Association Why does the GMA support the Symposium:  The idea of physicians‘ self-governance is one of the most important values of our organisation  It has been recognised since the early 1990s that there is a common historical heritage of professional organisation  Exchange of physicians  To have strong allies in a changing European environment  Opportunity to share experience and discuss common problems

5 Historical Overview 1994 Košice 1995 Wien 1996 Budapest 1997 Zagreb 1998 Magdeburg 1999 Ljubljana 2000 Český Krumlov 2001 Warszawa 2002 Băile Herculane 2003 Skopje 2004 Berlin 2005 Tirana 2006 Sofia 2007 Salzburg 2008 Caransebeş 2009 Beograd 2010 Skopje 2011 Kraków

6 ZEVA Symposium Past experiences Topics Specialty training, CME, physician assisted suicide, “Bologna process”, migration of physicians, quality in medicine, future of the medical profession, public relations of chambers etc. Organisational challenges  Different countries attend - Which countries are part of it?  Not every country that would like to host the Symposium has the organisational capacity  smaller countries may experience organisational difficulties

7 ZEVA Symposium Past experiences Results Media is interested in the meetings Can help the hosting countries  to show the international solidarity between the chambers of the region towards their government and the public  to address important issues in health care  to push for chambers interests with help and support of European partners

8 How to proceed – is there a need for the meetings? The advantages of the Symposium are:  it is not an organisation (like CPME etc.)  It focuses on a region with similar historical and organisational development  It enables discussion of the development of self-governance in the region  Mutual assistance  Strong network Only restriction to participation is being a physicians’ chamber

9 Results of the appraisal?  The Symposium is always organised by a different chamber  There isn’t and shouldn‘t be any formal organisational structure, but there is a need for coordination  Idea of having a website for the symposium

10 Website: Benefits  Database for contact details and chamber structures/responsibilities for each country  A virtual office  An archive of all activities and statements  Inform participants of the next venue  Inform the public about self-governance in the region  Serve as information point for the press and the media

11 Website: Benefits  Improve the performance of the Symposium  Strengthen the identity of common values like self-governance  Keep future EU members informed about new developments  Give smaller chambers the possibility to organise an event

12 About ZEVA What is the ZEVA Symposium? Participating countries > list with addresses and links Past ZEVA meetings List of countries and topics of past events (possibly presentations) Photos ? Future ZEVA meetings Host chamber, contact Contents: agenda Organizational information: venue, accommodation etc. Directions Application form Physicians‘ self- governance General Physicians‘ self- governance in the region Tasks and responsibilities of the different chambers (animated menu with flags or European map) Website: Content Declarations

13 Websites: Funding  Hans-Neuffer Foundation agreed to fund the development of the website  Permanent maintenance could be carried out voluntarily by the staff of the German Medical Association in collaboration with any interested chamber

14 Website: Establishment and Maintenance Development and maintenance of a website in general: -The German Medical Association would be willing to help develop the website and coordinate the content with the other national organisations (historical overview, declarations, statements etc.) “future ZEVA Symposium” - hosting country is responsible for the programme and the content Self- Governance -Each country is free to suggest content with information about their country and chamber to be put on the website

15 How to proceed?  Do the attending countries support this?  Are any of the attending countries interested in participating in the development of the website?  If there is a wish for the website, what content could be on?  Questions?

16 Thank you!