WHO: the Principality of Monaco represented at the Eleventh High-Level Meeting of the Small Countries Initiative held from 11 to 13 May 2025 in Bled, Slovenia

SCI- 11e réunion de haut niveau, Slovénie - © Boris Pretnar Images

The Ministry of Health and Social Affairs represented the Principality of Monaco at the Eleventh High-Level Meeting of the World Health Organization (WHO) Small Countries Initiative held in Bled (Slovenia) from 11 to 13 May 2025.

Established in 2013, the initiative is a platform through which the 12 Member States in the WHO European Region with populations of 2 million or less work together to address common issues and share experiences.

Organised this year by the Slovenian Government, the meeting focused on innovative solutions that could inspire or even be replicated in other member countries. It also highlighted public health initiatives well-suited to the needs of small countries.

Discussions covered multiple topics, including social participation, technological innovation and custom and preventive care.

The Ministry of Health and Social Affairs presented Handipact, the national policy launched in 2023 to improve the global well-being of people with disabilities and their inclusion in all areas of society. Attendees showed an avid interest in the policy for its cross-cutting and transformational objectives. Discussions are set to continue with the WHO in order to promote Handipact at the international level and for it to benefit from external feedback.

On a more general level, the meeting was an opportunity for the Principality to strengthen ties with high-level figures, representatives of other countries and technical experts which already exist remotely throughout the year thanks to joint projects.

In the lead-up to the 78th World Health Assembly (19-27 May 2025 in Geneva), discussions made it possible to address the financial difficulties faced by WHO while reaffirming the importance of producing tangible results for global health in a context where unity and cooperation are more important than ever.