The first working meeting for the “Heart Safe CBA” project was held

On March 24, 2026, the implementation of the project “Towards a Heart-Safe Cross-Border Area” (Heart Safe CBA) officially began, with the holding of the first working meeting.
The project is implemented within the framework of the Interreg IPA Greece – North Macedonia Cross-Border Cooperation Programme 2021–2027, co-financed by the European Union and the national funds of the participating countries.
The event was attended by representatives of all partner institutions – the Center for Development of the South-East Planning Region, the AHEPA General Hospital of Thessaloniki and the Society for Emergency Pre-Hospital Care of Greece. The meeting discussed the coordination of activities, defining the next steps and strengthening cross-border cooperation in the field of emergency medical care.
The project envisages significant investments in the healthcare infrastructure in the South-East region. The procurement and installation of 18 automatic (mobile) defibrillators in public locations, including municipal facilities and border crossings in Gevgelija, Dojran and Novo Selo, is planned. Additionally, 6 semi-automatic defibrillators, 6 ECG devices and 4 fully equipped ambulances will be provided for the needs of health centers.
Special emphasis at the meeting was placed on the organization of an extensive education program. Within the framework of the project, 60 trainings on first aid using defibrillators will be implemented, intended for doctors, medical staff, employees of several institutions, as well as for citizens from the region.
With the implementation of these activities, the “Heart Safe CBA” project aims to improve the emergency medical care system, increase the readiness to respond to cardiac emergencies and contribute to creating a safer and more resilient cross-border community.