As part of its commitment to strengthening collaboration across the Mediterranean, the CAREMED – Community-based Approach for Resilient Mediterranean Health project successfully organised the first national networking event of the Community-based Care Horizontal Initiatives Platform on 31 July 2026. Funded by the European Union through the Interreg NEXT MED Programme, the Platform brings together projects working on complementary community-based healthcare initiatives to foster collaboration, exchange knowledge and maximise the impact of EU-funded actions at national and regional level.

Hosted by the Lebanese University, CAREMED partner in Lebanon, the meeting brought together representatives of four Interreg NEXT MED projects with activities implemented in the country — CAREMED, MEDAGEINCY, SALAM and HERACLES — providing a valuable opportunity to present each initiative, identify areas of complementarity and explore future collaboration.

The Community-based Care Horizontal Initiatives Platform has been established to strengthen coordination among projects pursuing similar objectives by promoting the exchange of innovative solutions and good practices, encouraging the efficient use of resources, building stronger institutional networks and enhancing the collective contribution of Interreg NEXT MED projects to healthcare policy and implementation. During the meeting, participants exchanged experiences on community-based care, digital innovation, artificial intelligence, health system resilience and patient-centred approaches, identifying several opportunities for technical cooperation and mutual learning.

As a concrete follow-up, the project teams agreed to establish regular bilateral exchanges to explore shared technical solutions and joint initiatives. Representatives of the participating projects will also be invited to CAREMED’s upcoming Local Thematic Committee (LTC) meetings in Lebanon, further reinforcing collaboration between EU-funded initiatives and national stakeholders.

By creating opportunities for dialogue, knowledge exchange and cooperation across projects, the Community-based Care Horizontal Initiatives Platform represents an important step towards strengthening partnerships, promoting the transfer of good practices and supporting more integrated, innovative and sustainable community-based healthcare models across the Mediterranean region.