Signed at EPH Conference 2025 in Helsinki.
EUPHA and the Council of Occupational Therapists for the European Countries (COTEC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), formalising a shared commitment to advance public health across Europe. The agreement was signed during the 18th European Public Health Conference in Helsinki.
COTEC represents 33 national occupational therapy associations and more than 205,000 occupational therapists across Europe. As the leading voice for the profession at the European level, COTEC works to ensure high-quality occupational therapy education, practice, and services that contribute directly to population health and well-being.
A framework for deeper collaboration
The MoU provides a structured foundation for collaboration between EUPHA and COTEC in areas where the missions of both organisations strongly align. Priority themes include:
- Health and care workforce development
- Healthy ageing
- Digital health and the role of AI
- Early career, alumni, and student engagement
- Joint advocacy and communications
By bringing together public health and occupational therapy expertise, the partnership aims to strengthen policy influence, promote evidence-informed practice, and support a future-ready workforce capable of meeting Europe’s evolving health needs.
Occupational therapists are a crucial part of the public health workforce
Reflecting on the importance of the agreement, Anu Söderström, COTEC President, highlighted the value of formal recognition and alignment:
This is an acknowledgement, and it’s important for COTEC because we think occupational therapists are a crucial part of the public health workforce — and it cannot be underlined too much.
Healthy aging and digital health are areas where occupational therapists work every day. This includes occupational therapists in every country. To have this recognised and to work toward the same goals gives us a strong shared foundation.
Quality of life at the heart of public health
EUPHA President Prof. Tit Albreht underscored the strong synergies between public health and occupational therapy, drawing on both professional and personal insights:
Public health is about the totality of our health and well-being. It is not always about healing — it is also about supporting people to live the life they want to live, with the skills and capacities they have.
Occupational therapy plays a vital role in this. Even when a condition cannot be cured, keeping people engaged, active, and connected significantly improves their quality of life. Sometimes the most meaningful impact comes from adapting environments, including social environments, so that people can maintain their autonomy and dignity.
He added that the work of occupational therapists extends far beyond addressing physical limitations:
It goes beyond the basic needs. Quality of life is not only about care, but about enabling people to keep their abilities — even something as simple as maintaining the skills in your hands so you can eat independently.
Looking ahead
The new MoU marks the beginning of a strengthened partnership built on shared values and complementary expertise. Together, EUPHA and COTEC will work to advance a resilient, skilled, and person-centred health workforce and to advocate for policies that improve health and quality of life for people across Europe.
