The forum

MedCom Forum in Healthcare was launched in 2021 with the aim of defining and developing a network of infectious disease specialists, microbiologists and zootechnical institutes from countries belonging to the Mediterranean area. In the first edition, the major critical issues and opportunities inherent to border realities were addressed, illustrating the epidemiological situation of the different reference areas.

The following event, organized in May 2023, focused on the comparison between the organizational models for the management of transmissible diseases applied in the countries present at the event. From the debate, a summary proposal emerged, dictated by the need to be able to intervene in a timely manner in epidemic crises and to share the status of endemic situations in real time, in order to be able to operate in a coordinated and effective manner in the Mediterranean area. The participating countries were Italy, Albania, Egypt, Libya, Lebanon, Tunisia and Jordan. Among the speakers also the directors of communicable diseases departments and key figures of the respective Ministries of Health.

The 2024 edition, therefore, will take a further step in the discussion between the stakeholders who are committed to fight transmissible diseases in the Mediterranean area, with the aim of realizing the creation of the Mediterranean network for the prevention and monitoring of transmissible diseases, and to raise awareness of the One Health approach.

The tool identified by the stakeholders necessary to make effective the network between infectious disease specialists, microbiologists and stakeholders in the transmissible diseases sector, is the creation of a shared digital platform, which will be perfected during the event, with the aim to concretely give shape to the cooperation in this field between the countries of the area. And also create an efficient communication channel for clinical, epidemiological and socio-health issues.

Although the Mediterranean area is geographically a small region compared to the rest of the world, it is important to underline that important flows of people, goods and relationships capable of influencing the planet pass through this area. Cooperation on the exchange of information for better monitoring of transmissible diseases, therefore, helps to achieve the objectives of the stakeholders with a view to protecting the health of Mediterranean citizens.