OREANDA-NEWS. January 24, 2013. Ministry of Health and Social Development of the Republic of Karelia was a venue for the meeting of deputy Minister Anatoly Golubchenko with Markku Karminiemi, Development Director of Kakspy, social and psychiatric association of Southeast Finland (Kotka). The purpose of the meeting was discussion of issues of training paramedical personnel, exchange of experience in the field of rendering medical aid and social services and consideration of the opportunity of further cooperation.

Andrei Mikhailov, Head of the Medical Relief Department of the Ministry of Health and Social Development of the RK, Olga Kurakova, Head of the Department of Civil Service and Personnel, director of Petrozavodsk medical college Andrei Sleptsov took part in the conversation on the part of Russia.

Cooperation between the Ministry and Kakspy association was launched in 2007 at implementation of the joint Karelia-Finnish project on rendering psychiatric assistance in Petrozavodsk. Within the limits of this project Karelian experts have got acquainted with the system of rendering services in Kakspy association which activity is based on client-centered approach and granting rehabilitation services in-home, and is also related to new forms of rendering psychiatric help to citizens, and development of health communication.

Andrei Mikhailov has emphasized that Karelia and Finland support partnership of long standing, in particular, problems characteristic for public health services of both countries are solved cooperatively, however the stage of fact-finding trips has passed, and visits of experts should be of applied nature, conferences and seminars should be interesting from the point of view of practical application of lessons learned.

The parties have expressed interest to continue their cooperation and to expand contacts.

– We are ready to participate in international projects on mutually advantageous conditions, – Anatoly Golubchenko said.