Since 27^th August 2009 «eHealth Bulgaria» Foundation has been a beneficiary of the project "Increasing the capacity of the civil society’s structures in the health sector for effective interaction and collaboration between themselves and the administration”. The project is financially supported by operational programme "Administrative Capacity ", co-financed by the European Union through the European Social Fund.

The overall objective of the project is to increase the capacity of the non-government organizations in healthcare in Bulgaria for more effective dialogue and partnership with the administration. Implementation of the overall objective of the project will lead to building a strong capacity in these organizations for effective partnership with the local governments.

The project aims to strengthen the organizational and institutional capacity of "eHealth Bulgaria” Foundation for better implementation of its activities, improving its human resources and the human resources of the other NGOs in the sector through specialized training on priority topics, aimed at acquiring specific skills and knowledge for effective cooperation with the state administration, building partnerships between organizations in the sector based on a network for sharing resources, information and experience for the successful formulation of quality policies in health care and health maintenance.

The launching of the project was announced at a press conference on 17 September 2008 in the press conference hall of the Bulgarian News Agency.

On 28^th November 2008 the project team announced to journalists in Sofia Press Club establishment of a peer network among health NGOs and presented the initial steps and activities in pursuit of this stage of the project. They described the functions and tasks of the network and the contacts made with NGOs throughout the country. At this stage, the foundation is in contact with 21 organizations and hopes to promote the network to increase significantly the number of organizations included in it. The Foundation aims to bring together in partnership all NGOs in the health sector using the information portal and database that contain constantly updated information and profile of the organizations.

With the implementation of the project the team of “eHealth Foundation Bulgaria” organized on 29^th and 30^th January 2009 two seminars to strengthen the partnership between the organizations of the NGO in the field of health, which had already made contact. Besides the first organizations that had signed memoranda of cooperation in building a partnership network, among the participants of the workshop were representatives of regional administrations in different cities in the country.

The purpose of the seminars was to reinforce the contacts between all organizations to achieve visibility among them and to share opportunities to launch joint initiatives. Workshops were set up to intensify the activity of participants for a total participation in projects and exchange of information and experience.

Among the participants were:

The association of medical students in Bulgaria

Foundation Initiative commitment, Sliven

Egida Association, Pazardjik

Association Pro Otologi, Stara Zagora

Center for social and personal support “Maria”, Vratsa

Association of anesthesiologists and intensive therapists, Shumen

"Society of the Disabled", Vidin

Association of diabetes, Silistra

Regional non-profit association "Diabetic cares", Bourgas

Bulgarian Association for People with cancer and other diseases "Life", Haskovo

Association “Public Health 99”, Varna

Center for Social and health care, Veliko Turnovo

Regional Union of Hospitals "Stara Planina", Gabrovo

Association of Persons with Disabilities "Courage", Rousse

Association “Regional accessibility” Ruse

Association "Choice", Bansko

Association of health care professionals, Pernik

Association "Health for All", Pleven

Association “Health 21^st Century”, Blagoevgrad

“Hope for diabetics", Sredets

"Flame of Hope", Kameno

Association of patients with kidney diseases

Association “Child and space”, branch Silistra

At the seminars were representatives of the state administrations from Ruse, Blagoevgrad, Shumen, Sofia, Pernik, Smolyan and others.

In the period 23rd - 26^th of February in Moscow Park Hotel were held seven training modules. They were directed to representatives of the NGOs mentioned above and concerned topics from the everyday activities of these organizations - from the management of human resources and team work to legislation in the health sector, access to information and functions of local governments. Lecturers on the modules were:

Trainings were held in intensive sessions of 5 hours each with multimedia presentations on the topics covered, interactive models of learning and role plays. In some modules informational materials and questionnaires were prepared. Participants had the opportunity to ask specific questions and issues from their everyday practice and to receive competent answers from the speakers who have already proved their professionalism. The aim of the trainings was representatives of the non-governmental organizations to undertake training relevant to their position and interests. The topics of the modules affected important topics of the activities of the “third sector”. The team of “eHealth Foundation” Bulgaria is thankful to all participants and lectors.

Next stage of implementation of the project is the creation of this information portal and databases for NGOs in the health sector. To achieve the objective of building a portal the team of “eHealth Foundation” Bulgaria hopes the promotion and the activity of the other organizations in the sector will make it a working forum for communication and exchange of information and resources among all patients’, doctors’ and others’ organizations.