Cooperative possibilities of Visegrad Countries in the field of Balneology

1. Cooperative possibilities of Visegrad Countries in the field of Balneology Round table discussion

2. Czech Republic: J. Hnatek • Hungary: T. Bender, P. Géher • Poland: I. Ponikowska • Slovakia: J. Zalesakova

3. In 1335 Royal summit of the Kings of Poland, Bohemia and Hungary. • They agreed to cooperate closely in the field of politics and commerce.

4. President of the ČSFR Václav Havel, • Prime Minister of Hungary József Antall, • President of Poland Lech Walesa. • Visegrad (Troika) on February 15, 1991

5. 1993 • Czech Republic • Hungary • Poland • Slovakia

6. The Visegrad Group reflects the efforts of the countries of the Central European region to work together in a number of fields of common interest within all-European integration.

7. The possibilities of co-operation in the education. • Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA). • Agreement on co-operation in customs issues. • Red Cross national societies experts which evaluated the results of co-operation. • Computerization of public administration. • Cooperation in the Field of the Environment Protection and Nature Conservation.

8. Co-operation within the V4 area • Co-operation within the EU • Co-operation within NATO and other international organisations

9. · Culture, • · Education, youth exchange, science, • · Continuation of the strengthening of the civic dimension of the Visegrad co-operation within the International Visegrad Fund and its structures, · Cross-border co-operation, · Infrastructure, · Environment.

10. · Fight against terrorism, organised crime and illegal migration, · Schengen co-operation, · Disaster management, · Exchange of views on possible co-operation in the field of labour and social policy, · Exchange of experiences on foreign development assistance policy, · Defence and arms industries.

11. Topics to be discussed • Current situation (education, research, links) • Health and Industry • Existing international cooperation. • Future.

12. Czech Republic: J. Hnatek • Hungary: T. Bender, P. Géher • Poland: I. Ponikowska • Slovakia: J. Zalesakova

13. I. Current situation • Graduate and postgraduate education of balneology. • Education of health professionals. • Existing research units. • Ongoing research. • Funding. • Collaborations with authorities, insurance companies.

14. Graduate and postgraduate education of balneology • No formal undergraduate education. • Subspeciality of physiotherapy (2 years). • Interested in balneology: rheumatology, rehabilitation, ortopaedics.

15. Education of health professionals • High schools. • Postgraduate education.

16. Existing research units • National Institute of Rheumatology and Physiotherapy. • Occasional participation: chairs of geology, physics, etc.

17. Ongoing research I. • The effect of radon cave on the endocrin system. • The effect of Parad salt contain thermal water on chronic gynaecologycal diseases. • The effect of different type of thermal waters on free acid radical system.

18. Ongoing research II. • Vasoregulative changes during balneotherapy • Immunological changes during mud therapy. • Lab examinations during cure. • Underwater gymnastic therapy. • Underwater traction therapy.

19. II. Health and industry • Main industrial partners. • Industrial influence. • Cooperation woth industrial partners.

20. III. International Cooperations • Bilateral cooperations. • Multilateral cooperations. • EU activities.

21. Thank you for your active participation