Workshop of the Centre for Health Systems, Policy and Diplomacy Held: “Knowledge Transfer from Palliative Care: A Path Towards Comprehensive Care for Complex Patients and the Centre’s Plan for 2026”
Zagreb, 27 November 2025 - A professional workshop titled “Knowledge Transfer from Palliative Care: A Path Towards Comprehensive Care for Complex Patients and the Centre’s Plan for 2026” was held at the Andrija Štampar School of Public Health. This event marked the beginning of a new cycle of activities of the Centre for Health Systems, Policies and Diplomacy of the University of Zagreb School of Medicine for the 2025–2026 period, implemented in professional partnership with the Croatian Nursing Chamber.
The workshop brought together more than 80 experts from the fields of health and social care, including representatives of hospitals, health centres, social institutions, civil society organisations, county administrations and the Ministry of Health.
The organisers presented the activities carried out so far and the Centre’s work plan for 2026, while also launching a new thematic cycle dedicated to palliative and long-term care, care for complex patients, and support for informal caregivers. Through three thematic blocks, participants discussed:
- the transfer of knowledge and experience from palliative care to the development of comprehensive care models for complex patients,
- opportunities for improving current practices in palliative care,
- the Centre’s work plan and future cross-sector collaboration in 2026 with health and social institutions, public administration, industry and civil society.
At the workshop, a series of publications and tools was also presented, prepared in cooperation with members and partners of the Centre. Among them were the books “Family in Palliative Care” by Dumbović and Neuberg, published by University North, and “Complex Patients”, edited by Džakula, Vočanec and Lončarek, created as a result of a series of columns published in the CMJ, and issued by Medicinska naklada (available at: https://www.medicinskanaklada.hr/complex-patients).
The workshop was held as part of the multi-year programme “Improving Care for Complex Patients”, which the Centre has been implementing since 2022 with technical support from the association PIN for Health. The programme includes ongoing research and professional activities, such as workshops, pilot projects, meetings and conferences focused on integrated care, informal care and complex patients. The entire programme is implemented in line with the strategic frameworks for developing public care systems in the Republic of Croatia, specifically the Operational Plan for the Development of Integrated Long-Term Care 2025–2030.
