Building on the collective successes of the annual Autumn Schools by the WHO Office on Quality of Care and Patient Safety in Athens, Greece, the 2026 programme will feature 2 consecutive meetings in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. This year’s special Central Asia edition is hosted by the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Tajikistan, in collaboration with the WHO Country Office in Tajikistan.
The first meeting, the WHO European School on Quality of Care and Patient Safety – Central Asia Special Edition, will take place on 20–24 July. This will be followed by the Satellite Meeting on Quality of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Care, scheduled for 24–25 July.
These meetings aim to foster collaboration and enhance capacity in the WHO European Region, focusing on key areas of health-care quality and mental health services for children and adolescents.
About the event
Tailored for stakeholders in Central Asia and the Commonwealth of Independent States, this edition will provide invaluable knowledge and essential tools designed to enhance quality of care, patient safety, and mental health for children and adolescents. The programme aligns with the second European Programme of Work 2026–2030 and the Roadmap for Health and Well-being in Central Asia 2026–2030.
Courses will be available in both English and Russian to ensure accessibility.
WHO European School on Quality of Care and Patient safety – Central Asia Edition
The School emphasizes outcomes that matter to patients and communities, focusing on a systems approach to quality of care, supported by robust governance, effective leadership and a skilled workforce.
Participants will benefit from:
- high-level perspectives and global expertise: keynotes and plenaries led by global experts on the core pillars and key enablers of quality of care and patient safety;
- policy dialogue and regional exchange: interactive roundtables and panels sharing global, regional and country experiences in advancing quality of care and patient safety;
- hands-on improving health-care simulation exercise: a multi-day exercise covering the full improvement cycle, from setting aims and analysing systems to testing interventions, measuring results and adapting implementation strategies;
- practical tools and methods: workshops on assessing national quality and patient safety systems, implementing the WHO Global Patient Safety Action Plan 2021–2030, and strengthening incident reporting and learning; and
- networking and peer exchange: opportunities to connect with regional and international experts and peers, including through a dedicated poster exhibition.
Satellite Meeting on Quality of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Care
The 2-day satellite meeting focusses on strengthening the quality of mental health care for children and adolescents. It will feature expert-led sessions, country exchanges and small-group discussions. Participants will explore WHO tools and quality standards, share national experiences, and identify practical next steps to enhance mental health services for children and adolescents.
Together, these meetings will support leadership, build technical capacity and foster collaboration among countries, all aimed at advancing safer, more effective, equitable and people-centred care.