When we launched our project, the Permanent Conference of Slovak Healthcare Professionals, at the beginning of the year—implemented under the Recovery Plan and funded by the EU – NextGenerationEU initiative—our first working meeting took place as a roundtable at our embassy in London.

At this meeting, with the participation of our main unofficial partner, the Association of Slovak Healthcare Professionals in the UK, we planned cooperation for upcoming activities. Symbolically, we also concluded our working year in London, where we evaluated the year together with our colleagues in the UK and agreed on the coordination of further project activities. So, what did we achieve over the course of the year?

In 2025, out of the originally approved 16 events, we successfully delivered a total of 8 events, while one event was subsequently removed by the agency. We began implementing the project in January 2025 despite not having secured financial coverage at that time. As part of our activities, we established a strong partnership with the Association of Slovak Healthcare Professionals in the UK. In addition to Slovak healthcare professionals in the UK, we also involved Slovak professionals working in the USA, Serbia, the Czech Republic, and France.

On the Slovak side, we actively cooperate with the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic (with whom we also organized one of our events, the Career and Education Opportunities Fair), healthcare providers (e.g. Penta Hospitals, Agel, F. D. Roosevelt University Hospital with Polyclinic Banská Bystrica, and others), representatives of local governments, educational institutions (e.g. the Secondary Medical School in Trnava), as well as professional chambers in healthcare (e.g. the Slovak Chamber of Nurses and Midwives).

Since the main workforce challenge in Slovak healthcare is the acute shortage of nurses, we focused our efforts primarily on this group, aiming to bring effective solutions and know-how from our diaspora. We therefore consider it a major success to have established close cooperation with the Slovak Chamber of Nurses and Midwives, as evidenced by their invitation to the National Conference on Nursing Management, where we had the opportunity to actively present on the topic Inclusion and Equal Opportunities together with our main “UK-based” guest, Katarina Morris.

The “zero” edition of the Conference of Slovak Healthcare Professionals was also met with great success and interest, with participation from many renowned experts from Slovakia and abroad. Being part of the first edition of Medi-futura further demonstrates that, despite its short existence, our project has already secured a solid position within the healthcare sector and is effectively connecting our professional diaspora with Slovakia.

As part of the Permanent Conference of Slovak Healthcare Professionals project, implemented by the International Association of Physicians and Healthcare Workers in Slovakia (MALnS), we delivered the final webinar in a series focused on the topic “Communication in Crisis Situations.”

The project aims to connect Slovak physicians, healthcare professionals, social workers, and students working abroad with Slovakia, and to actively involve them in addressing systemic challenges within the Slovak healthcare system.

The webinar was prepared in close collaboration with the Association of Slovak Healthcare Professionals in the UK and Learn & Lead Innovation. It provided participants with valuable insights from the UK healthcare system, as well as innovative approaches to personal development and supporting the mental well-being of healthcare professionals.

Speakers and webinar topics:

• Katarina Morris, BSc – communicating bad news in a hospital setting and Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) legislation

• MUDr. Katarína Lietavová – the impact of patient suicide on the mental health of healthcare staff

• PaedDr. Jana Chynoradská – the inner compass of a helping professional and principles for mental balance and personal development

• Ondrej Obediar, BSc, MSc – the role of multidisciplinary teams in health and social care in the UK

The discussion confirmed that crisis communication, care for the mental health of healthcare professionals, and burnout prevention are areas that require systematic attention. The involvement of experts from abroad brings new perspectives and practical solutions that can also serve as inspiration for the Slovak healthcare system.

We would like to thank all speakers, partners, and participants for their active involvement and for the enriching exchange of experience. We are pleased that the Permanent Conference of Slovak Healthcare Professionals is becoming a stable platform for cooperation between experts at home and abroad.

This project is funded by the EU NextGeneration initiative under the Recovery and Resilience Plan.

On 25 September 2025, we attended the 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮 conference in Bratislava organised by the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic as representatives of the Association of Slovak Healthcare Professionals in the UK together with our partners from the Medzinárodná asociácia lekárov a zdravotníkov na Slovensku (𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗵𝘆𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗮).

This event focused strongly on medical students and young doctors, exploring how to make Slovak healthcare more attractive and sustainable in the global context, so that talented graduates can see their future at home rather than abroad.

For us, it was valuable to contribute perspectives from the UK and to discuss how the Slovak medical diaspora can stay connected and support the next generation. Supporting and motivating young healthcare professionals is key to building a strong and resilient system.

Many thanks to the organisers of Medifutura  for opening up these important conversations. Thanks to our colleagues Marian Neradny Alona Kurotová Ondrej Obediar Dana Klampárová
#Medifutura #ASHCPUK #Healthcare #Slovakia #FutureOfMedicine #MedicalStudents #Collaboration

Reflections and Future Paths" refers to a hybrid event held on June 27, 2025, organized by the International Association of Slovak Doctors and Healthcare Professionals in Slovakia (MALnS) and the Association of Slovak Healthcare Professionals in the UK to discuss the experiences and future perspectives of Slovak healthcare professionals in both countries. The event provided a platform for reflection on current challenges and future paths for Slovak healthcare professionals in the UK and Slovakia, considering factors like the security of borders, EU funds, and the rights of Slovak citizens in the UK following Brexit.

As part of our project, the Permanent Conference of Slovak Healthcare Professionals, we actively participated—upon invitation from the Slovak Chamber of Nurses and Midwives (SKSaPA)—in the 12th National Conference on Nursing Management, where we organized a professional session titled Inclusion and Equal Opportunities.

The first speaker was Katarina Morris, a Slovak nurse who has been working in the United Kingdom for more than 20 years. She introduced participants to her professional journey and provided insights into the competencies of nurses within the UK healthcare system.

Using concrete examples, she demonstrated the processes of integration, professional development, distribution of competencies and responsibilities, as well as the functioning of teamwork, with an emphasis on the equal position of nurses within multidisciplinary teams.

The presentation was received very positively and generated significant interest, as reflected in the high number of expert questions from the audience. As not all questions could be addressed during the presentation, Katarina Morris was also invited to participate in the subsequent panel discussion titled Nursing in Slovakia.

The second part of our session featured a joint presentation by Alona Kurotová and Marian Neradný titled Foreign Nurse in Slovakia – Challenges and Opportunities.

In the introduction, Marian Neradný presented the Permanent Conference of Slovak Healthcare Professionals as a platform for engaging healthcare professionals working abroad in addressing systemic challenges within the Slovak healthcare system.

A practical example of this collaboration was the active participation of Katarina Morris and the establishment of communication between SKSaPA and our professional diaspora.

In the second part, Alona Kurotová highlighted the currently insufficient level of integration of foreign nurses into the Slovak healthcare system and pointed out possible solutions as well as the benefits of more effective integration of these professionals.

The presentation was followed by a lively professional discussion, which continued into the informal part of the event.

At this conference, we also had a unique opportunity to attend numerous insightful presentations on our key topic—nursing—delivered by leading experts in the field.

Our participation resulted in several positive outcomes, including the establishment of new professional contacts and preliminary agreements on future cooperation with representatives of SKSaPA, the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic, and healthcare providers.

Representatives of SKSaPA also accepted our invitation to an upcoming roundtable in London, where we are preparing a meeting with our professional diaspora in the United Kingdom.

Finally, we would like to once again thank Iveta Lazorová, President of SKSaPA, for the invitation and the opportunity to present our approaches to addressing key challenges, including contributions from the healthcare diaspora.

We look forward to continuing our joint efforts in addressing the challenges of the Slovak healthcare system and to further cooperation involving our compatriots abroad.

We’re still feeling the incredible energy from our first international healthcare conference, titled 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗮𝗸 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 – 𝗟𝗲𝘁’𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗘𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗢𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿, which brought together Slovak healthcare professionals from across borders for two unforgettable days in Bratislava.
Organised through a meaningful partnership between the Association of Slovak Healthcare Professionals in the UK and Medzinárodná asociácia lekárov a zdravotníkov na Slovensku (International Association of Doctors and Healthcare Workers in Slovakia), Marian Neradny Alona Kurotová, this event marked not just a beginning — but a reconnection. For many of us, it was the first time meeting in person after years of online collaboration and distance.

🤝 With the support of the 𝗘𝗨’𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻, and the valuable contributions of our partners at Slovak Global Network and the Academy of Critical Thinking, we created a space that was not only informative but deeply human.

From panel discussions to spontaneous hallway conversations, the atmosphere was full of openness, expertise, and shared purpose. Healthcare professionals from Slovakia, the UK, and beyond exchanged stories, challenges, and solutions — with an energy that only face-to-face connection can offer.

🎤 We were honoured to welcome representatives from the Ministry of Health, as well as speakers and attendees across various disciplines — all passionate about moving our systems forward and supporting those who care for others.

💬𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁:
🩺 𝗡𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴: 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 Katarina Morris Jakub Rybár Martin Krsak Ondrej Obediar
🤖 𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗲 & 𝗔𝗜: 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆’𝘀 𝗲𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 Martin Krsak
🌍 𝗚𝗣 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱: 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗦𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗮 Marcela Uhliarova
🧠 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗞: 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲, 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 Dr Helena Aziri Edita Searle
🧩 𝗣𝘀𝘆𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗔 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮𝘁 𝗦𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗮 𝘃𝘀. 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗞 Lenka Janik Blaskova, PhD, CPsychol, FHEA, AFBPsS
⚕️ 𝗣𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲: 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗱-𝗼𝗳-𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 Katarina Morris
🎓 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗞: 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿 Katarina Lenartova
🛠️ 𝗟𝗼 𝗖𝗼𝗱𝗲/𝗡𝗼 𝗖𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽: 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀 Martin Krsak Imrich Berta Laura Johanesova

We recently organised a video workshop led by Mr. Obediar, dedicated to the mental health of healthcare and social workers. The programme began with an introduction to the key aspects of mental health, followed by a discussion of the everyday challenges faced in healthcare and social professions. Special attention was given to prevention and self-care strategies, as well as the importance of convalescence and a healthy return to work.

Participants also engaged in practical exercises and shared their personal experiences, making the session both interactive and insightful. The workshop concluded with a collective reflection and evaluation, providing valuable feedback for future events.

On 31.1.2025, the Association of Slovak Healthcare professionals in the UK (ASHCPUK) had the honour of hosting a pivotal meeting with the International Association of Physicians in Slovakia (Medzinárodná asociácia lekárov a zdravotníkov na Slovensku) at the Embassy of Slovakia in London - a huge thank you to Nina Spisiak and the Embassy for their warm hospitality and support.

We were privileged to welcome Alona Kurotová and Marian Neradny, with their guest Dana Jurčovičová, who joined us to discuss collaboration and knowledge exchange between Slovak medical professionals across borders. We were also delighted to be joined by Professor Dennis Ougrin from the Ukrainian Medical Association in the UK, whose expertise and insight enriched our discussions.

The key focus of our meeting was our upcoming projects, which have received generous support from the Research and Innovation Authority (Výskumná a inovačná autorita (VAIA) and the EU. These initiatives aim to strengthen professional ties, advance medical research, and create opportunities for healthcare professionals to collaborate on solutions that benefit both patients and practitioners. We firmly believe that international cooperation is the way forward in addressing today’s healthcare challenges.

We encourage all our members, supporters, and fellow professionals to reach out if you are interested in getting involved. Whether you are looking to contribute your expertise, collaborate on research, or simply stay informed, we welcome you to join us in shaping the future of healthcare.

Following this inspiring meeting, on Saturday (1.2.2025), we had the pleasure of attending the Petronela’s Hope Gold Charity Awards in Medway, a beautifully organised event by Petronela Zilik, founder of Petronela’s Hope, a charity dedicated to supporting women affected by domestic violence. It was an evening filled with warmth, solidarity, and generosity, bringing together wonderful people to raise awareness and vital funds for the local communities.

Moments like these remind us of the power of community—whether in healthcare, research, or charity, collaboration is key to driving meaningful change. We are grateful to everyone involved in these events and look forward to continuing our mission to connect, support, and innovate.

Let’s keep the momentum going! If you’d like to learn more or get involved, don’t hesitate to reach out.

On November 16, 2024, the Association of Slovak Healthcare Professionals in the UK (ASHCPUK) held its General Annual Meeting in London. The event brought together Slovak doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals working in the United Kingdom, providing them with a platform to share experiences, strengthen professional ties, and discuss future projects.

Supported by the Embassy of the Slovak Republic in London, the meeting highlighted the role of ASHCPUK as a bridge between Slovak healthcare workers abroad and their home country. Participants reflected on the association’s activities over the past year, including professional networking, support services for members, and cooperation with international partners. Andrea Švecová presented her project focused on the wellbeing of healthcare workers, sparking discussion on how to better support staff in demanding medical environments. The event was also honored by the presence of Dr. Oksana Lovochkina, representative of the Ukrainian Medical Association, underlining the close cooperation and friendship between the two organizations.

The gathering once again confirmed the importance of solidarity and collaboration among Slovak healthcare professionals working abroad, reinforcing their contribution both to the NHS in the UK and to the Slovak medical community.

From June 13 to 15, 2024, Košice hosted the 16th Slovak Psychiatric Congress, one of the most significant professional events in the field of psychiatry in Slovakia. The DoubleTree by Hilton hotel welcomed dozens of experts from across Slovakia and abroad, who came together to discuss current issues in mental health, diagnostics, and treatment of psychiatric disorders.

The program included lectures on innovative approaches in psychopharmacotherapy, the sustainability of ADHD treatment in adulthood, and new perspectives in metabolic psychiatry. Ethical questions and the use of restraints in psychiatry, with a focus on more humane practices, were also addressed. A collection of abstracts was published in the professional journal Psychiatria pre prax.

The congress highlighted the growing importance of interdisciplinary cooperation and the need for continuous education in mental health, which is becoming increasingly crucial for society.

Our second General Annual Meeting was held on 21st October 2023, in Bohemia House, London, attended by our precious guests from the International Doctors Association in Slovakia, Alona Kurotova and Marian Neradny. We talked about their longstanding support to international medical graduates, but also nurses and other healthcare professions  who start their career in Slovakia. They also prepared project MedIntegro, with materials for healthcare workers preparing to practise in countries of EU.

On 15th November 2023, we attended the Summit organised by Slovak Global Network, in cooperation with the Academy of Critical Thinking, at the Slovak Ministry of Foreign affairs in Bratislava, Slovakia, with many interesting attendees and speakers, including Madame President Zuzana Caputova, and current and former prime ministers. We are looking forward to the future cooperation of Slovak healthcare professionals in the United Kingdom and Slovakia.

Members of the Association attended the First general Annual meeting in Bohemia House in London. We met with the Ambassador of Slovak republic, Dr Robert Ondrejcsak and also welcomed a guest of honour, Professor Dennis Ougrin, vice-president of the Ukrainian Medical Association in the UK. We discussed our vision and plans for the members and Slovak citizens in the UK.