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The European Public Health Association
Newsletter - November 2024
 
 

Newsletter - November 2024

  1. Editorial
  2. EUPHA update
  3. European Public Health Conference
  4. European Journal of Public Health
  5. Call for proposals, job opportunities
  6. Interesting news
  7. Upcoming courses and conferences
  8. Interesting publications
  9. European Institutions’ news
  10. European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control news
  11. WHO news
 

1. Editorial

Reflections from Lisbon – A Note from the New EUPHA President

Having recently returned from the 17th European Public Health Conference in Lisbon, I am filled with gratitude and inspiration from this extraordinary gathering of the public health community across Europe and beyond.

Key highlights include:

  • The debut of Where Health Can Thrive, an inspiring concept introduced by EUPHA Chief Executive Charlotte Marchandise, which we hope will become a lasting anthem for future conferences.
  • Excellent participation throughout, culminating in the best-attended closing session to date, aided by the decision to end the conference on a Friday.
  • Innovative synergies from our Portuguese hosts, including a Lusophone public health conference and collaboration with politicians prioritizing health on Europe’s policy agenda.
  • Outstanding contributions from our partners, including WHO Regional Office for Europe, the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, EuroHealthNet, the World Federation of Public Health Associations, EHMA, EUPHA’s Sections, member associations, and ASPHER.

Special thanks to the EUPHA team, led by Charlotte Marchandise, and supported by Floris Barnhoorn, Jessica van Diemen-Vlijm, Lydia Rink-Zoer, Robert Klarecki, José Velthuis, Nicholas Bishop, Natalie de Boer, Sarah Abitbol, and Julian Hein, who ensured seamless execution.

As we reflect on the impactful discussions and collaborations in Lisbon, we now turn our attention to Helsinki 2025, where we will continue advancing public health with our Finnish partners.

I look forward to seeing many of you there—or even sooner!

Warm regards,
Tit Albreht
EUPHA President

2. EUPHA update

EUPHA President changes

EUPHA is proud to announce Tit Albreht as the new EUPHA President, officially installed during the Closing Ceremony of the European Public Health Conference in Lisbon. We extend our warmest congratulations to Tit as he embarks on this important role, and we look forward to his leadership in advancing public health across Europe.

We also take this moment to express our heartfelt gratitude to Iveta Nagyova, our now Past-President, for her unwavering dedication, strategic vision, and tireless work over the past years. Her contributions have been instrumental in shaping EUPHA’s priorities and influence in the global public health arena. We are pleased Iveta will be staying onboard as the Chair of EPH Conference.

Additionally, a special acknowledgment goes to Martin McKee, EUPHA Past-President, for his years of leadership and his continued guidance as a Special Advisor to EUPHA. Martin’s wisdom and expertise remain invaluable as we navigate the challenges and opportunities ahead.

With this leadership, EUPHA is well-positioned to continue its mission of fostering collaboration, innovation, and impactful action for better public health in Europe.

Urgent Public Health Call: EUPHA's Statement on the Gaza Conflict

EUPHA has issued a strong statement addressing the devastating public health implications of the ongoing Gaza conflict. Recognizing the escalating humanitarian crisis, we urge immediate action to protect civilians and safeguard public health infrastructure in the region.

The statement highlights two critical priorities:

  1. Ensuring Access to Healthcare and Essential Services: Public health systems must remain operational to provide life-saving care and support for affected populations.
  2. Safeguarding Public Health Infrastructure: Protecting these systems is vital to prevent further crises and long-term health repercussions.

This call to action emphasizes the need for collaboration among governments, international organizations, and public health professionals to address the crisis effectively. Together, we must prioritize equitable access to care, ensuring no one is left behind.
Read the full statement here.
We urge our members and partners to amplify this message, ensuring public health remains central to crisis response efforts. For endorsement by organisations send your logo to office@eupha.org.

EUPHA sections Statement for Inclusive and Equitable Climate Action: Building a Sustainable Future for All

We recognize that climate action is essential for building a healthier, more sustainable future for all inhabitants of our planet. The involvement of women, minority communities, the disprivileged, disempowered, and vulnerable people is critical in achieving equity and sustainability in climate actions. Their participation is vital for fostering the behavioral and mindset changes necessary for enduring progress.
Read the joint statement of the Environment and health, Urban public health and Public mental health sections here.
We are inviting you to sign the Statement here.

New EUPHA section presidents

Recently elections were organised for new section presidents.

Law and public health
The new President is Dimitra Lingri.
The now past President Amandine Garde and Vice President Nikhil Gokani decided not to go for the second term.

Past Steering Committee members
Markus Frischhut, David Patterson, Elena Petelos, Anniek de Ruijter, Farhang Tahzib, Andrei Rus, Sujitha Subramanian.

Migrant and ethnic minority health
The new President is Sonia Dias.
The now past President is Bernadette Kumar.
The now past Vice President: Charles Agyemang.

Past Steering Committee members
Allan Krasnik, Raj Bhopal, Antonio Chiarenza, Marie Louise Nørredam, Oliver Razum, Istvan Szilard, Maria Luisa Vázquez.

Public health epidemiology
The new President is Angelo M. Pezzullo.
The now past President is Stefania Boccia.
The now past Vice Presidents are Ralf Reintjes and Angelo M. Pezzullo.

Urban public health
The new President is Manuel Franco.
The now past President is Stefano Capolongo.
The now Vice Presidents are Evangelia Chrysikou and Greg Williams.

Past Steering Committee members
Marcus Grant, Catharine Ward-Thompson, Rainer Fehr, Andrea Rebecchi, Elena Petelos, Oboh Achioyamen, 

We sincerely thank all past Presidents, Vice Presidents and steering committee members for their time and dedication to EUPHA and EUPHA looks forward to working with all new Presidents and their teams.
Check out our sections webpages here.

3. European Public Health Conference

18th EPH Conference, Helsinki, Finland

 

The 18th EPH Conference will be held in Helsinki, Finland, from 11 – 14 November 2025. Pre-conferences will be held on Tuesday 11 November. The main conference is from 12 – 14 November. Theme of the EPH conference 2024 is: Investing for sustainable health and well-being. The conference will be held at the renovated Finlandia Hall. Read more here.

Abstract submission Helsinki 2025

Abstract submission for the 18th EPH Conference is open from 1 February until 1 May 2025. Abstracts are invited for workshops, oral, pitch and poster presentations. Do not miss the opportunity to share your work with colleagues at the largest public health event in Europe. In collaboration with EUPHAnxt we provide an abstract tutoring programme offering an opportunity for young and/or less experienced abstract submitters to receive feedback from experienced reviewers. Check our website for any updates.

17th EPH Conference Lisbon 2024

Recordings of all plenary sessions are available on the EPH Conference YouTube and LinkedIn channels. Find out more here.

4. European Journal of Public Health

Advance articles

The Community Acute Respiratory Infection surveillance programme: an evaluation of a newly established surveillance programme in Scotland 
Tonje S Laird and others
Effort–reward imbalance and burnout among German school leaders. Representative study findings and implications for an underserved occupational group 
Nele Groß and others
Could digital twins be the next revolution in healthcare? 
Leonardo de Oliveira El-Warrak and Claudio Miceli de Farias
Predicting population-level vulnerability among pregnant women using routinely collected data and the added relevance of self-reported data 
Joyce M Molenaar and others
How is health equity considered in policy evaluations employing quasi-experimental methods? A scoping review and content analysis 
Kerstin Sell and others
Access points to different levels of health care over 13 years. Utilization behaviour in a changing health care system. Results of a three-wave cross-sectional series in Austria 
Roland Kraxner and others
Public health approaches to ‘Leave No One Behind’ in heatwave resilience: insights from the UK 
Ana Raquel Nunes
Causal association of physical activity with lymphoma risk: a Mendelian randomization analysis 
Jin Zhao and others
Prevalent findings on low-dose CT scan lung cancer screening: a French prospective pilot study 
Philippe A Grenier and others
Intermarriage and mortality among Finnish migrants in Sweden: a prospective register study using binational data 
Kaarina Korhonen and others
Lessons learned from Taiwan’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic: successes, challenges, and implications for future pandemics 
Vivian Chia-Rong Hsieh and others
Support for a ban on characterizing flavours in cigarettes in the UK: a longitudinal online survey 
Crawford Moodie and others
Prospective relationship between family screen time rules, obesogenic behaviours, and childhood obesity 
Ladan Hashemi and others
Association of unemployment and increased depressive symptoms with all-cause mortality: follow-up study of a cardiovascular prevention programme 
Päivi E Korhonen and others
The impact of reminders on representativeness and survey estimates among web-mode invited in the Danish National Health Survey 
Andrea Huber Jezek and others
The spatial overlap between risk of intimate partner violence against women and suicide-related emergency calls 
María Montagud-Andrés and others
Are EU member states ready for the European Health Data Space? Lessons learnt on the secondary use of health data from the TEHDAS Joint Action 
Irini A Kessissoglou and others
Defining vulnerabilities and enabling community engagement in epidemics preparedness: the CAVE model from Austria 
Paul Grohma and others
Employment in low-skilled jobs as trigger and consequence of poor health—a longitudinal perspective from Germany 
Arthur Kaboth and others
Is the period of austerity in the UK associated with increased rates of adverse birth outcomes? 
Rachael Watson and others
Changes in perceived neighborhood social cohesion and self-assessed health: 17-year follow-up of the Dutch GLOBE study 
Vernon Cail and others
Social listening applied to tailor communication on immunization in the Republic of Moldova 
Alina Timotin and others
Health perceptions of adverse weather in older adults in England: analysis of 2019/20 survey data 
Grace Anne Turner and others
All-cause and cause-specific mortality among older migrant and non-migrant adults in Finland: a register study on all deaths, 2002–2020 
Laura Kemppainen and others
Caesarean section and operative vaginal delivery in Estonia and Finland from 1992 to 2016: registry-based study 
Kaire Sildver and others
The association between tobacco use and COVID-19 diagnoses in three Nordic countries: a pooled analysis 
Ahmed Nabil Shaaban and others
Educational differences in alcohol-related morbidity and the role of working conditions: a Swedish register-based cohort study 
Melody Almroth and others
To what extent did mortality from COVID-19 in England and Wales differ for migrants compared to non-migrants in 2020 and 2021? A descriptive, observational study 
Lucinda Hiam and others
Examining health literacy in the Danish general population: a cross-sectional study on the associations between individual factors and healthcare-seeking behaviour 
Lisa Maria Sele Sætre and others
Disease management program in patients with type 2 diabetes 
Mette Bender and others
Sociodemographic differences in the response to changes in COVID-19 testing guidelines 
Shambhavi Sharma and others
HPV-associated cancers among people living with HIV: nationwide population-based retrospective cohort study 2004–21 in Estonia 
Anna Tisler and others
Public Health, One Health, and Planetary Health: what is next? 
Francisco Olea-Popelka and others
Loneliness in the Republic of Srpska: advocating for social prescribing 
Sonja Stančić and others
Association between frailty and subsequent disability trajectories among older adults: a growth curve longitudinal analysis from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (2004–19) 
Selam Woldemariam and others
The association of economic difficulties with social and health care costs of children—target trial emulation using complete birth cohort data in Finland 
Aapo Hiilamo and others
An integrated pathway for influenza vaccination across primary and secondary care using a clinical decision support system: model definition and predictive impact analysis 
Maria Lucia Specchia and others
Patients like any others? Providing coverage to undocumented migrants in France: effects on access to care and usual source of care 
Antoine Marsaudon and others
Do poor psychosocial resources mediate health inequalities in type 2 diabetes mellitus? Findings from the Maastricht study 
Bengisu Sezer and others
Leisure-time activities and disability among Chinese community-dwelling oldest old: evidence from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Study 
Wen-Fang Zhong and others
Developing a nationwide registry of UK veterans seeking help from sector charities—a machine learning approach to stratification 
Giuseppe Serra and others
Constructing a One Health governance architecture: a systematic review and analysis of governance mechanisms for One Health 
Darlington David Faijue and others
Flight-related determinants of healthcare services utilization of asylum seekers and refugees in Germany: a study based on the German Socio-Economic Panel 
Thomas Grochtdreis and others
Burden of disease studies supporting policymaking in the European Union: a systematic review 
José Chen-Xu and others
Obsessed with fertility 
Vasiliy Vlassov
Time to reap the fruits of EU-SILC’s new way of measuring unmet needs 
David Ingleby and Caterina F Guidi
Potentially avoidable mortality among adults with intellectual disability 
Lau Caspar Thygesen and others
Trajectories of satisfaction with work–family reconciliation among midlife employees: the role of family-related factors and quality of life 
Subas Neupane and others
Factors associated with intent to stay in the profession: an exploratory cluster analysis across healthcare professions in Switzerland 
Leonard Roth and others
Impact of the use of small-area models on estimation of attributable mortality at a regional level 
Julia Rey-Brandariz and others
Reach and public health implications of proposed new food marketing regulation in Germany: an updated analysis 
Anna Leibinger and others

5. Call for proposals, job opportunities

Opportunity to join JA PreventNCD Youth Advisory Group [Europe]

JA PreventNCD is currently recruiting members for our Youth Advisory Group, a platform that will play a key role in guiding our initiatives, providing feedback on program development and policy efforts, and help us amplify the voices of young people fighting against the burden of cancer and other non-communicable diseases through prevention and health promotion. We are looking for motivated individuals between the ages of 18 and 35 from the European region who are eager to contribute their ideas and perspectives.
The call is open to both official representatives of youth organizations as well as young individual applicants. The deadline for applications is 7 December 2024.
Information brief about YAG.
Click here to read more.

THCS Call "Better care closer to home: Enhancing primary and community care"

THCS will launch its third Joint Transnational Call for proposals aiming to fund research and innovation projects that strengthen primary and community health and care systems and provide policy and decision makers with the necessary knowledge and tools to govern the transitions needed in the primary and community care sector.
Check out the call here.

Senior Public Health Expert at National Health Observatory in Luxembourg

The National Health Observatory in Luxembourg is looking for a French speaking Senior Public Health Expert. Find more information here

EuroHealthNet is looking for Senior Research Coordinator

We are hiring a Senior Research Coordinator to contribute to impactful research with an international and interdisciplinary team, addressing inequalities in health services access and outcomes. You will join CHAIN’s Brussels hub at EuroHealthNetworking on cancer-related data collection in vulnerable populations.
Check out the call here.

Two paid internship positions - on Advocacy and Strategic Communications - with the International Planned Parenthood Federation European Network (IPPF EN)

IPPF EN occasionally offers short-term internships. Applications are particularly encouraged from candidates openly living with HIV. IPPF is committed to equal opportunities and cultural diversity.
Check out the call here.

PhD fellowship in Climate Change Adaptation in Conflict Settings at the University of Copenhagen Department of Public Health

This position will be based at the Global Health section at the Department of Public Health with the disaster research group and will be part of the Copenhagen Centre for Disaster Research. The section is interdisciplinary, collaborative and brings together decades of Global South experience working with various topics of global health and disasters.
Check out the call here.

Rehabilitation in healthcare coordinator, National Consultant (WHO/EURO; Kyiv)

The role of the successful candidate is to lead the rehabilitation support unit (RSU) to the implementation and monitoring of the new national rehabilitation road map for rehabilitation in healthcare. This includes managing a technical team to address all areas of the road map and ensure timely and effective support is provided to the MoH, NHSU, oblast and community level health authorities, civil society, and international stakeholders. The road map will address the WHO six building blocks of health systems strengthening: governance, medical products, information management, service delivery, financing, and workforce.
Check out the call here.

Digital (EU4Health): Call for proposals on advancing the adoption of artificial intelligence in health

Check out the call here.

Call for papers! Do you research quality of care or patient safety in low-resource settings? If so, consider this call for an upcoming special issue for Frontiers in Health Services on "Patient Safe

Unsafe care results in over 3 million deaths each year globally. It is estimated that over half of these deaths are preventable. The majority of harm occurs in resource-constrained contexts, where systemic factors relating to context, complexity of care, organisational behaviour, human factors, wider socio-political influences impacting both health-seeking behaviours of patients and governance and regulation of health systems, together with significant workforce shortages, contribute to an increased risk of adverse events.
Check out the call here.

6. Interesting news

COP29 outcome: EU upbeat on finance, disappointed on climate action (Euractiv)

After the COP29 global climate talks in Azerbaijan concluded at 3am local time on Sunday (24 November), the EU welcomed a deal to triple global climate finance until 2035 to $300 billion but criticised the lack of agreement on concrete climate action.
Read more here.

Statement on the Passing of Hon. Faustine Ndugulile (UNITE)

It is with deep sorrow and profound respect that we at the UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health acknowledge the passing of Hon. Faustine Ndugulile, UNITE member, member of parliament in Tanzania, former Deputy Minister of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elders, and Children of Tanzania, and recently elected WHO Direct-Elect for Africa.
Read the statement here.

EU disease agency considers quitting Elon Musk's X over disinfo (Politico)

The spread of scientific misinformation on the social media platform is making the ECDC think twice, its director says.
Read more here.

COP29: The Health Expenses of Climate Change (Think Global Health)

Does a failure to focus on health economic losses stand opposed to stronger action at the UN summit and beyond?
Read more here.

7. Upcoming courses and conferences

6th International Public Mental Health Winter School
2 Dec 2024 - 6 Dec 2024 / Vilnius, Lithuania
Organiser: Vilnius University, Faculty of Medicine, Lithuania in collaboration with Emden University of Applied Sciences, Germany ao

Health in Detention
2 Dec 2024 - 6 Dec 2024 / Allschwil, Switzerland
Organiser: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH)

EUREGHA Annual Conference 2024
5 Dec 2024 / Brussels, Belgium
Organiser: EUREGHA

The Lancet Countdown in Europe Webinar
9 Dec 2024 / Online event
Organiser: The Lancet

Leveraging evidence for health systems transformation: Passing the baton at the Observatory
10 Dec 2024 / Online event
Organiser: European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies

Foundations of International Health Management
27 Jan 2025 - 31 Jan 2025 / Allschwil, Switzerland
Organiser: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH)

Economic Evaluation in Health Care
3 Feb 2025 - 7 Feb 2025 / Allschwil, Switzerland
Organiser: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH)

Behaviour Change for Health and Sustainability 2025 Conference
2 Apr 2025 - 3 Apr 2025 / Lisbon, Portugal
Organiser: Centre for behaviour change - UCL

Health and Risk Communication in Pandemics and Beyond: Strategies for a Systems Thinking, Community-Centered, and Equity-Driven Approach
7 Jul 2025 - 18 Jul 2025 / Rome, Italy
Organiser: The American University of Rome

Observatory Venice Summer School 2025
20 Jul 2025 - 26 Jul 2025 / Venice, Italy
Organiser: European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies

8. Interesting publications

Dealing with a healthcare crisis, lessons from Ukraine (Euractiv)

To build health resilience in times of conflict, countries need to have robust supply chains of medicines, expand telemedicine and decentralise power generation to support health facilities and make clean water, said Ihor Kuzin, Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Health.
Read more here.

Health, the missing chapter in the Draghi Report on Europe's future

By Martin McKee, Anniek de Ruijter and Tamara Hervey (The Lancet Regional Health Europe)
Read the article here.

State of Health in the EU Cycle - Health at a Glance: Europe 2024 report has been published

Read the article here.

Open access book "Managing Infodemics in the 21st Century: Addressing New Public Health Challenges in the Information Ecosystem"

This is now available in NCBI Bookshelf. Editors: Tina D. Purnat, Tim Nguyen, and Sylvie Briand.
Read more here.

European Health Forum Gastein 2024 Outcomes Report is out!

Read more here.

Systems Change Isn't One Thing. Financing Should Reflect That

From experimentation to redesign to optimization, the interconnected processes by which systems are changed require distinct forms of funding. (SSRI)
Read more here.

Sandro Galea's The Healthiest Goldfish delivers another great reflection piece

Two pieces, in fact. This time on “Certainty as the great enemy of tolerance”
Links to part one and to part two.

Second Report by LSC DiPH Sheds Light on Digital Health Trends in Germany

The Leibniz ScienceCampus Digital Public Health (LSC DiPH) has released its second comprehensive study on digital health technology use in Germany. The research, led by Dr. Karina Karolina De Santis, which surveyed 1,020 individuals, focuses on the adoption rates of health-related apps and digital tools, emphasizing the importance of digital literacy in the effective use of these technologies. (LSC DiPH and SAGE)
Link to the report (in German)
Link to the paper

9. European Institutions’ news

European Commission

The European Parliament confirmed the new College of Commissioners, starting December 1. Notable figures include:

  • Olivér Várhelyi (Hungary): Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare.
  • Hadja Lahbib (Belgium): Commissioner for Preparedness, Crisis Management, and Equality.

Várhelyi’s controversial remarks on women's rights and abortion prompted MEPs to reassign sexual and reproductive health responsibilities to Lahbib, now overseeing Equality. This emphasizes subsidiarity in health matters (TFEU Article 168(7)).

Further Reading: Explore EUROCARE’s presentation here.

European Parliament

The SANT Subcommittee will transition into a full committee, taking on public health, mental health, and pharmaceutical policy, underscoring health’s increasing EU priority.

Council:
On December 2, the Council will address disability inclusion, labor shortages, and the European Semester 2025.

Trending Topics:
The rise of far-right populism, alongside the war in Ukraine, calls for bolstered health security to strengthen societal resilience.

National Level:

  • Romania: The December 1 elections saw the ruling PSD lead with 22.6%, followed by far-right AUR at 18.2%. The presidential runoff on December 8 will feature far-right Călin Georgescu vs. reformist Elena Lasconi (USR), amid a court-ordered recount.
  • Upcoming Elections: Ireland (Nov 29), Iceland (Nov 30), Kosovo (Jan 9).

For more, see our Public Consultation Guideline here

Among the confirmed European Commissioners who will be particularly important to EU citizens impacted by rare diseases

  • Oliver Varhelyi, Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare. Mr Varhelyi‘s portfolio includes continuing negotiations around the revision of the EU general pharmaceutical legislation, proposing the Critical Medicines Act, advancing the implementation of the European Health Data Space, upscaling genome sequencing across the Union, strengthening European Reference Networks (ERNs) to improve care for those with rare and complex diseases, and - likely - reviewing the Medical Device Regulation.
  • Ekaterina Zaharieva, Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation. Ms Zaharieva oversees the Horizon Europe Programme to advance research addressing societal challenges. Her objectives for the next five years will be to foster a conducive environment for startups by improving funding access and reducing administrative burdens, while driving digital innovation through AI and emerging technologies and enhancing Europe's research infrastructure.
  • Hadja Lahbib, Commissioner for Preparedness, Crisis Management, and Equality. Ms Lahbib's expanded portfolio includes health preparedness, overseeing reproductive and sexual health issues, and strengthening the EU Civil Protection Mechanism for coordinated responses to health crises and natural disasters. In her equality mandate, she will promote policies to combat discrimination, foster inclusion, and implement the EU disability strategy.

New EU Commission to Unveil Healthcare Cybersecurity Plan in First 100 Days

Ensuring the European healthcare sector is well-equipped to respond to cyber-attacks will be a top priority for the newly elected European Commission.
Read more here.

Commission receives scientific advice on One Health approach in the EU

The European Commission has today formally received the evidence review report and opinion of the Scientific Advice Mechanism (SAM) on One Health governance in the EU. The opinion sets out a series of policy recommendations on how the One Health approach could be managed and governed in the EU.
Read more here.

Commission and OECD report shows need to further promote healthy ageing while tackling health workforce shortages

the Commission and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) published the Health at a Glance: Europe 2024 report. This year's edition highlights the importance of lifelong health promotion and disease prevention to boosting healthy ageing. It also stresses the urgent need to address health workforce shortages across Europe.
Read more here.

Webinar "Health at a Glance: Europe 2024"

This #EUHPP Live webinar on “Health at a Glance: Europe 2024 Promoting healthy ageing and longevity whilst tackling health workforce shortages ! took place online on Monday 18 November 2024.
Watch the webinar here.

Upcoming events from the Observatory on health systems and policies

Leveraging evidence for health systems transformation: Passing the baton at the Observatory - Special Symposium, 10 December 2024
Observatory Venice Summer School 2025, Venice, Italy, 20-26 July 2025: Does Health System Performance Assessment (HSPA) actually improve performance? Designing HSPA to enable better policy decision making

Past events, recordings, news
Learning from European best practices to strengthen financing of rehabilitation services in Ukraine, 22 November, with the following highlights
Health Systems Global symposium in Nagasaki, 18-22 November, no recordings available outside of the conference yet with the following sessions:

The Technical Support Instrument project “EU Health Resource Hub for Sustainable Investing in Health” wrapped up in Vienna, with highlights here
The attendance at the wonderful EPH conference this year, and the livestreamed plenary on AI as it can be found here.

10. European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control news

Eurosurveillance - Volume 29, Issue 44, 31 October 2024

Rapid communication
A cluster of Mayaro virus infections in a film team returning from Suriname, February 2024
Hans Martin Orth, Stefanie Pfau, Martin Gabriel, Stephan Günther, Dennis Tappe, Daniel Hornuss, Irmela Müller-Stöver, Martha Charlotte Holtfreter, Tom Luedde, Jonas Schmidt-Chanasit  and Torsten Feldt
Effectiveness of the autumn 2023 COVID-19 vaccine dose in hospital-based healthcare workers: results of the VEBIS healthcare worker vaccine effectiveness cohort study, seven European countries, season 2023/24
Camelia Savulescu, Albert Prats-Uribe, Kim Brolin, Anneli Uusküla, Colm Bergin, Catherine Fleming, Rita Murri, Viesturs Zvirbulis, Dace Zavadska, Vania Gaio, Corneliu P Popescu, Raluca Hrisca, and others

Surveillance
Integrating indicator-based and event-based surveillance data for risk mapping of West Nile virus, Europe, 2006 to 2021
Kyla Serres, Diana Erazo, Garance Despréaux, María F Vincenti-González, Wim Van Bortel, Elena Arsevska  and Simon Dellicour

Research
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5 virus exposure in domestic cats and rural stray cats, the Netherlands, October 2020 to June 2023
Mirjam B H M Duijvestijn, Nancy N M P Schuurman, Johannes C M Vernooij, Michelle A J M van Leeuwen, Judith M A van den Brand, Jaap A Wagenaar, Frank J M van Kuppeveld, and others
Enhanced echovirus 11 genomic surveillance in neonatal infections in Spain following a European alert reveals new recombinant forms linked to severe cases, 2019 to 2023
Maria Dolores Fernandez-Garcia, Nerea Garcia-Ibañez, Juan Camacho, Almudena Gutierrez, Laura Sánchez García, Cristina Calvo, Antonio Moreno-Docón, Ana Isabel Menasalvas, Antonio Medina, and others

Eurosurveillance - Volume 29, Issue 45, 07 November 2024

Editorial
Should all hospitalised patients colonised with Candida auris be considered for isolation?
Eelco FJ Meijer  and Andreas Voss

Rapid communication
Detection of circulating type 3 vaccine-derived polioviruses in French Guiana, May to August 2024
Stéphanie Raffestin, Ambre Tinard, Antoine Enfissi, Marie-Line Joffret, Timothée Lichtenstein, Sourakhata Tirera, Laura Zanetti, Marie Barrau, Francky Mubenga, Adrien Ortelli, Christophe N Peyrefitte, and others
Setting thresholds to determine COVID-19 activity levels using the mean standard deviation (MSD) method, England, 2022–2024
Mary A Sinnathamby, Tania Bourouphael, Jacob Boateng, Magali Collonnaz, Catherine Quinot, Nurin Abdul Aziz, Suzanne Elgohari, Rebecca E Green, Gavin Dabrera, Jamie Lopez-Bernal  and Alex Allen

Outbreaks
Candida auris fungaemia outbreak in a tertiary care academic hospital and emergence of a pan-echinocandin resistant isolate, Greece, 2021 to 2023
Joseph Meletiadis, Maria Siopi, Bram Spruijtenburg, Panagiota-Christina Georgiou, Maria Kostoula, Sophia Vourli, Frantzeska Frantzeskaki , Elisabeth Paramythiotou, Jacques F Meis, Iraklis Tsangaris, Spyros Pournaras

Research
Self-reported hepatitis A and B vaccination coverage among men who have sex with men (MSM), associated factors and vaccination recommendations in 43 countries of the WHO European Region: results from the European MSM Internet Survey, EMIS-2017
Michael Brandl, Axel J Schmidt, Ulrich Marcus, Erika Duffell, Ettore Severi, Antons Mozalevskis, Anda Kivite-Urtane, Matthias an der Heiden  and Sandra Dudareva
Viral hepatitis knowledge and vaccination awareness among men who have sex with men (MSM) in 43 countries of the WHO European Region: results from the European MSM Internet Survey, EMIS-2017
Sofia Burdi, Michael Brandl, Ulrich Marcus, Erika Duffell, Ettore Severi, Antons Mozalevskis, Kristi Rüütel, Achim Dörre, Axel J Schmidt  and Sandra Dudareva
Non-invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae infections are associated with different serotypes than invasive infections, Belgium, 2020 to 2023
Ioannis Passaris, Stéphanie Depickère, Toon Braeye, Marina Mukovnikova, Alexandra Vodolazkaia, Chloé Abels, Lize Cuypers, Stefanie Desmet, Pieter-Jan Ceyssens  and NIPD study group Belgium

Perspective
Post-disappearance scenarios: policy implications following the potential disappearance of B/Yamagata lineage influenza viruses
Marco Del Riccio, Marta C Nunes, Benjamin J Cowling, Bruno Lina, John W McCauley, Adam Meijer , Hanna Nohynek, Bronke Boudewijns  and Saverio Caini

Eurosurveillance - Volume 29, Issue 46, 14 November 2024

Rapid communication
Multinational investigation of a Salmonella Umbilo outbreak reveals rocket salad and baby spinach as the likely infection vehicles, Europe, 2024
Bettina M Rosner, Sandra Simon, Stine Nielsen, Sandra Köberl-Jelovcan, Pernille Gymoese, Dirk Werber, Anika Meinen, Michael Pietsch, Antje Flieger, Jennie Fischer, Marina C Lamparter, and others

Surveillance
Epidemiology of invasive meningococcal disease, Japan, 2013 to 2023
Miho Kobayashi, Hajime Kamiya, Munehisa Fukusumi, Hideyuki Takahashi, Yukihiro Akeda, Motoi Suzuki  and Tomimasa Sunagawa
Measuring hospital antibiotic consumption in EU/EEA countries: comparison of different metrics, 2017 to 2021
Igor Rubinić, Vivian H Leung, Liselotte Diaz Högberg, Dominique L Monnet, Vera Vlahović-Palčevski  and ESAC-Net study group
Antibiotic consumption patterns in older adults: a comparative study of people 65 years and older in and outside nursing homes, Belgium, 2016 to 2022
Moira Kelly, Marc de Falleur, El Maati Allaoui, Laura Bonacini, Boudewijn Catry, Katrien Latour  and Lucy Catteau

Research
An in-depth analysis of antimicrobial prescription quality in 10 non-university hospitals, in southwest Germany, 2021
Gesche Först, Roland Giesen, Geertje Fink, Matthias Sehlbrede, Nicole Wimmesberger, Rebekka Allen, Kerstin Meyer, Sabine Müller, Hanna Niese, Sina Polk, Barbara Reistle, and others
Treatment uptake among notified cases of hepatitis C virus infection in Norway, 1990 to 2022: a registry-based study to monitor progress towards elimination
Robert Whittaker, Håvard Midgard, Olav Dalgard  and Hilde Kløvstad

Eurosurveillance - Volume 29, Issue 47, 21 November 2024

Editorial
‘Antimicrobial resistance is invisible. I am not.’
Guido Werner  and Muna Abu Sin

Rapid communication
Emergence of Escherichia coli ST131 carrying carbapenemase genes, European Union/European Economic Area, August 2012 to May 2024
Anke Kohlenberg, Olov Svartström, Petra Apfalter, Rainer Hartl, Pierre Bogaerts, Te-Din Huang, Katerina Chudejova, Lucia Malisova, Jessica Eisfeld, Mirco Sandfort, Anette M Hammerum, and others
Autochthonous dengue outbreak in Marche Region, Central Italy, August to October 2024
Chiara Sacco, Augusto Liverani, Giulietta Venturi, Stefano Gavaudan, Flavia Riccardo, Giovanna Salvoni, Claudia Fortuna, Katia Marinelli, Giulia Marsili, Alessia Pesaresi, Carla Molina Grané, and others

Surveillance
Genomic surveillance detects interregional spread of New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase-1-producing Providencia stuartii in hospitals, Romania, December 2021 to September 2023
Marius Linkevicius, Sandra Witteveen, Mariana Buzea, Mirela Flonta, Marina Indreas, Maria Nica, Edit Székely, Daniela Tălăpan, Olov Svartström, Erik Alm, Daniel Palm, Dominique L Monnet, Antoni PA Hendrickx, Anke Kohlenberg  and Gabriel Adrian Popescu

Research
Escherichia coli from six European countries reveals differences in profile and distribution of critical antimicrobial resistance determinants within One Health compartments, 2013 to 2020
Håkon P Kaspersen, Michael SM Brouwer, Javier Nunez-Garcia, Ingrid Cárdenas-Rey, Manal AbuOun, Nicholas Duggett, Nicholas Ellaby, Jose Delgado-Blas, Jens A Hammerl, Maria Getino, and others
Agile, on-demand wastewater surveillance of virus infections to support pandemic and outbreak response in Rotterdam-Rijnmond, the Netherlands, 2020 to 2022
Emma Besijn, Jane Whelan, Paul Bijkerk, Gregorius J Sips, Jeroen Langeveld, Ray W Izquierdo-Lara, Elvira van Baarle, Remy Schilperoort, Marion P G Koopmans, Miranda de Graaf, Gertjan Medema, Ewout Fanoy

Perspective
Expert consensus on antimicrobial resistance research priorities to focus development and implementation of antibacterial vaccines and monoclonal antibodies
Nasreen Hassoun-Kheir, Mariana Guedes, Fabiana Arieti, Maria Diletta Pezzani, Beryl Primrose Gladstone, Julie V Robotham, Koen B Pouwels, Rhys Kingston, Yehuda Carmeli, Alessandro Cassini, and others

Eurosurveillance - Volume 29, Issue 48, 28 November 2024

Editorial
Five years to 2030: reaching underserved populations is key to ending the AIDS epidemic in Europe
Viviane Bremer  and Anastasia Pharris

Rapid communication
Trends in new HIV diagnoses and factors contributing to late diagnosis among migrant populations in EU/EEA countries, 2014 to 2023
Juliana Reyes-Urueña, Giorgia Stoppa, Federica Pizzolato, Marieke J van der Werf, Charlotte Deogan, Vítor Cabral-Veríssimo, Helena Cortes-Martins, Jessika Deblonde, Asuncion Diaz, Victoria Hernando, and others
First case of mpox with monkeypox virus clade Ib outside Africa in a returning traveller, Sweden, August 2024: public health measures
Carl-Johan Treutiger, Finn Filén, Moa Rehn, Johan Aarum, Andreas Jacks, Magnus Gisslén, Erik Sturegård, Maria Lind Karlberg, Oskar Karlsson Lindsjö  and Klara Sondén
Response of the German public health service to the first imported mpox clade Ib case in Germany, October 2024
Rosanne de Jong, Jennifer Schauer, Annelene Kossow, Sibylle Scharkus  and Annette Jurke
Outbreak of paediatric myocarditis associated with parvovirus B19 infection in Italy, January to October 2024
Marco Poeta, Cristina Moracas, Francesca Ippolita Calò Carducci, Claudio Cafagno, Danilo Buonsenso, Marco Maglione, Sofia Sgubbi, Cecilia Liberati, Elisabetta Venturini, and others

Outbreaks
Genomic epidemiological analysis of a single-centre polyclonal outbreak of Serratia marcescens, Belgium, 2022 to 2023
Sam Van Goethem, Basil Britto Xavier, Youri Glupczynski, Matilda Berkell, Philippe Willems, Bruno Van Herendael, Katrien Hoet, Katleen Plaskie, Daan Van Brusselen, Herman Goossens, Surbhi Malhotra-Kumar

Research
Likelihood of HIV and recent bacterial sexually transmitted infections among transgender and non-binary individuals in 20 European countries, October 2023 to April 2024
Haoyi Wang, Johann Kolstee, Jules L Casalini, Samira Hakim, Hanne ML Zimmermann  and Kai J Jonas
Missed opportunities for early HIV diagnosis in Greece: The MORFEAS study, 2019 to 2021
Sotirios Roussos, Nikos Pantazis, Konstantinos Protopapas, Anastasia Antoniadou, Antonios Papadopoulos, Giota Lourida, Vasileios Papastamopoulos, Maria Chini, Konstantinos Alexakis, and others

11. WHO news

Resource guide for the implementation of the Roadmap on antimicrobial resistance for the WHO European Region 2023-2030

WHO/Europe has launched a new resource guide for the implementation of the AMR roadmap for the WHO European Region. This interactive guide provides the relevant information and tools that can help Member States tailor interventions to their specific context and priorities.
Read more here.

Regional Committee session draws to a close in Copenhagen with look ahead to the second European Programme of Work

The 74th WHO Regional Committee for Europe (RC74) drew to a close on 31 October 2024 following a 3-day agenda covering a wide range of discussions and decisions on health and governance topics.
Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO’s Regional Director for Europe since 2020, was nominated for a second term by Member States and committed to moving forward on the next stage of the European Programme of Work (EPW).
Read more here.

Partnering with the European Union (EU) to tackle mental health challenges

WHO is partnering with the European Commission to protect and promote the mental health of more than 450 million people living in the EU, Iceland and Norway by improving country capacities to take a comprehensive approach to mental health.
Read more here.

1000 days of war in Ukraine: resilience in health response, recovery and reform efforts despite attacks and ongoing challenges

19 November 2024, marked 1000 days since the Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The toll on the health of the Ukrainian population and its health-care system has been immense. The war has escalated health needs, especially in areas such as mental health, trauma care and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), affecting millions who face continuous attacks, trauma and restricted access to health care due to ongoing hostilities and financial barriers. Ukrainian citizens are bearing increased physical and psychological strain, heightening the need for accessible care across all health services.
Read more here.

Social participation is key to health system governance

WHO/Europe has launched two new policy briefs showcasing country case studies, documenting policy lessons from across our Region.

  • The first is about making social participation central to health system governance, with policy lessons from the field. Click here for more information.
  • The second is about how we can institutionalize social participation in health policy. Click here for more information.

WHO/Europe launches a new toolkit to help countries to transform long-term care systems

In a major step towards enhancing the quality and accessibility of long-term care (LTC) across Europe, the WHO Regional Office for Europe has launched its new State of Long-term Care Toolkit. This practical, innovative resource aims to support policy-makers at regional, national and local level in reshaping LTC systems to be more responsive, inclusive and sustainable.
Read more here.

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Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or HaDEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

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