EU funding to help in the fight against COVID-19

Ljubljana, 2 November 2020 – Slovenia is to channel EU funding to actions preventing the spread of COVID-19, with a special emphasis given to vulnerable population groups. The project, which will be fully funded by the European Social Fund, will be implemented by the National Institute of Public Health.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has issued a funding decision for the project COVID-19 – Measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 with emphasis on vulnerable population groups. Total project budget stands at EUR 6 million. Cohesion region Vzhodna Slovenija will receive EUR 3.4 million, while the remaining EUR 2.4 million will go to cohesion region Zahodna Slovenija to fight the outbreak.  

As part of the project, the National Institute of Public Health intends to strengthen its epidemiological surveillance services by providing additional staff, delivering training to fully qualify the staff, activating mobile units and ensuring appropriate spatial and working conditions. Another important strand of the project will be raising public awareness on ways to reduce the risk of Coronavirus infection and transmission, while helping those already in quarantine or isolation due to Coronavirus. Once the COVID-19 vaccine is approved, the role of the National Institute of Public Health will also be to promote mass vaccination, particularly among target groups. Additionally, our healthcare system will be supported, in particular in the areas of data monitoring and outpatient treatment. A series of lectures and seminars will be delivered for doctors and other health professionals under the project.

The flagship goal of the project is to deliver a mix of actions to ensure the right tools that will help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to mitigate the effects of the socio-economic crisis brought by COVID-19 on mental health of the citizens and on provision of healthcare and medical activities.