Heads: The WHO Collaborating is coordinated by Professor Eleni Papadaki and Emeritus Professor Christos Lionis

The World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Quality of Care and People-Centred Health Policies was established March 2026 at the Medical School of the University of Crete.

The WHO Collaborating Centre will focus on strengthening capacity to advance quality of care and patient safety through behavioural and cultural insights; strengthening trust, social participation and stakeholder engagement in health and care systems; promoting patient partnerships and health literacy; and advancing compassionate, dignity-based models of care across the Mediterranean region. The Centre will work closely with local, national and international partners and stakeholders to disseminate knowledge, develop tools, processes and training fostering collaboration across the WHO Eastern Region.

The Collaborating Centre is committed to implementing three pillars of action:

• Pillar 1: Dissemination of knowledge, stakeholder engagement, for patient-centred care policies in the Mediterranean Basin
• Pillar 2: Capacity building and knowledge tools to upgrade health services, with a focus on compassionate care and dignity.
• Pillar 3: Tools and standards for patient-centred care and facilitating navigation within health systems.

What is a WHO Collaborating Centre?

A WHO Collaborating Centre is an institution officially designated by the WHO Director-General to support WHO programmes at national, regional, interregional and global levels. In keeping with WHO’s strategy for technical cooperation, these centres also reinforce national health capacity by contributing information, services, research and training to support improvements in public health.