REPORT – XXXI ECPD INTERNATIONAL SUMMER SCHOOL MANAGEMENT OF HEALTHCARE INSTITUTIONS WITH THE MAIN TOPIC DIGITALIZATION AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN ENHANCING HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT Hotel Splendid − Budva, 22 – 25 June 2026
European Center for Peace and Development of the United Nations University for Peace has organized the traditional 31st ECPD International Summer School on Management of Healthcare Institutions, which was held from 22 to 25 June in Budva – Hotel Splendid.
The main topic was “Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence in Enhancing Healthcare Management” and one of the leading goals of the Program was to analyze opportunities provided by development and implementation of digital technology and AI in order to improve the efficiency, quality and sustainability of healthcare systems.
Introductory speeches were given by: Academician Prof. Dr. Negoslav Ostojić, ECPD Executive Director, Academician Prof. Dr. Milan Nedeljković, President of the Serbian Medical Society, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade,and Prof. Dr. Tina Bregant, Co-Director of the School, Faculty of Health “Angela Boškin” Ljubljana.
Co-directors of the School were also Prof. Dr. Klaus-Dirk Henke, professor emeritus and long-term Head of Department of Health Economics and Health Management, University of Berlin, Prof. Dr. Thomas Lux, Director of Competence Center eHealth, University of applied sciences Niederrhein, Germany, Prof. Dr. Luca Rosi, Ministry of foreign affairs of Italy – Health attaché at the Embassy of Italy in Beijing, China, and Prof. Dr. Miodrag Todorović, CEO of “Panafricare” Clinic and long-standing Director of the Seychelles Ministry of Health.
Lectures were given by prominent international experts: Prof. dr Farhang Tahzib, Director of Public health & wellbeing, West Sussex Primary Care Trust, London; Prof. Dr. Elizabeta Ristanović, Medical Faculty of the Military Medical Academy, University of Defense in Belgrade; Prof. Dr. Snežana Rakić, Parliament of the Republic of Serbia – Health and Family Committee, Belgrade; Prof. Dr. Zlatko Maksimović, Faculty of Medicine, University of East Sarajevo; Prof. Igor Ogorevc, Director AS AN d.o.o. Ljubljana, Slovenia; Prof. Dr. Naser Rugova, Professor ECPD RIDS, Skopje; University of Business and Technology – Department of Medical Sciences, Prishtina; Mr. Félix Álvaro García-Giralda Núñez, Principal Advisor for Health Affairs, Danish Embassy in Spain, Madrid.
The topics of the Program ranged within the following thematic sessions:
- Basic Concepts and Practical Aspects of Management in Healthcare
- Digitalization and AI Applications in Healthcare System Management
- Contemporary Healthcare – Challenges and Solutions
In addition to presentations, panel discussions and workshops were also organized, with a focus on comparative experiences in dealing with current challenges in health management, and on challenges in the field of legal regulation, ethics and data protection.
Upon completion of the education, participants were awarded with internationally and nationally accredited Certificates, with a note that by the Health Council of Serbia the Program was accredited as an International Seminar of the 1st category, with 14 points for lecturers and 7 points for participants (Accreditation number А-1-136/26).
We wish to extend our sincere gratitude to all the lecturers and participants, who recognized the significance and potential of this International School as an important meeting point and platform for exchanging experience of managers and other decision-makers in healthcare systems from the region of Central and Southeast Europe.
