Health Programme – A Foundation for Systematic Support of Health Promotion and the Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases in Slovakia

On 4–5 March 2026, an opening conference for the approved projects under the Health Programme, part of the Swiss–Slovak Cooperation Programme, was held under the auspices of the Ministry of Investments, Regional Development and Informatization of the Slovak Republic at the Salamandra Hotel near Banská Štiavnica city . The programme represents an important step in strengthening health promotion and the prevention of non-communicable diseases in Slovakia.

Self-governing regions and cities presented their projects, which share a common goal – reducing avoidable mortality in Slovakia. At the same time, each project is unique and tailored to address specific regional or local needs.

In addition to the presentation of projects, an important part of the conference was its expert segment, which opened discussions on several key topics, including the urgent need for a system of governance for prevention and health protection in Slovakia, as well as the importance of cooperation and the consolidation of efforts in this field. Throughout the conference, a central message resonated: health is a cross-cutting issue that extends across all sectors, as the determinants of health go far beyond the healthcare sector alone. A significant professional contribution to the conference was the participation and lecture of Dr. Eva Goncalvesová, Head of the Cardiology Clinic of the Faculty of Medicine of Comenius University and the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, as well as the participation of public health experts, including Chief Public Health Officer of the Slovak Republic Dr. Tatiana Červeňová and Assoc. Prof. Daniela Kállayová, public health expert from the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic. The conference also created space for linking the newly approved projects with the predefined project “Strengthening the Governance of Non-Communicable Disease Prevention and Health Promotion in Slovakia”, implemented by the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic, which represents a key pillar of the entire programme.

An innovative feature of the conference was the opportunity for project presentation through exhibition stands, where representatives of the projects and regions introduced the activities of the supported projects in more detail. The Ministry of Investments, Regional Development and Informatization of the Slovak Republic, as the Programme Operator of the Health Programme, used the opening conference not only to present the supported and predefined projects, but also as a platform for discussions and for building an informal network of beneficiaries.

Health prevention and protection is an extremely important topic not only for Slovakia but also for Switzerland. This was demonstrated not only by the participation of the Ambassador of the Swiss Confederation, Peter Nelson, at the conference, but also by the partnership with the Swiss Health Foundation RADIX, which supports Slovakia in developing governance models, structures, and processes for health promotion and prevention at the national, regional, and local levels.