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The European Public Health Association Newsletter – February 2024 |
1. Editorial
Dear reader,
We’re excited to bring you this edition of the EUPHA newsletter, highlighting the collective insights from our recent Sections Council meeting. Our Sections will now have a monthly platform to showcase their activities and contributions, underlining the vitality of our community.
This year, we are proud to anchor the European Public Health Week (EUPHW) 2024 around the theme “Health is a political choice!” It emphasizes our dedication to advocating for health on every political agenda. The week begins with a special event in Brussels, setting the stage for a series of discussions on innovation in public health—our focal point for the year. Highlighting our commitment to the next generation, the EUPHW will conclude with an event dedicated to young leadership, truly handing them the reins to shape the discussion and the future of public health.
As we move forward, our efforts will be framed by the theme of the upcoming European Public Health Conference: ” Sailing the waves of European public health: exploring a sea of innovation“.
Warmest regards,
Dr Iveta Nagyova, EUPHA President, and Charlotte Marchandise, Executive Director
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2. EUPHA update
Urgent Call for Ceasefire and Protection of Health Rights in the Wake of Conflict in Gaza
The European Public Health Association condemns the murderous attack by Hamas militants on 7th October 2023 that led to the deaths of about 1,200 people in Israel and the taking of an estimated 240 hostages. EUPHA sends its heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones and calls on the parties involved to ensure the release of those who continue to be held without further bloodshed.
Meet-the-Section: Public health policy and politics (PHPP)
Starting this month, we will include the new Meet-the-Section feature in the monthly EUPHA newsletter. The idea is to briefly introduce the work of one of the 26 EUPHA Sections and three initiative sections each month and elicit your interest in following their work or even getting actively involved.
Symbolically linked to the 2024 European Public Health Week overarching topic (“Health is a political choice!”) and the important election year that 2024 is, we start by presenting the Public Health Policy and Politics (PHPP) Section.
Public health policy and politics may sound broad at first sight, but if health is (or should be) in all policies, it should also be in all politics. This Section, therefore, nurtures cross-sectional collaboration across many of the topics covered by other EUPHA Sections. Our aim is to raise awareness about the challenges, impacts and connections between health, policy and politics. Section’s past activities included scientific and policy publications (on the above-mentioned topics), training for your professionals (“Pitch to policymakers”) and a wide range of seminars and workshops (on hot topics in policy and politics). Platforms used were the European Journal of Public Health, EPH Conferences, European Public Health Weeks and others. This year, many elections around Europe offer a unique opportunity to spark a discussion on the influence of politics on health. Stay tuned for upcoming activities!
Please sign up to receive future PHPP Section Newsflash emails (2-3 times per year). This can be done through your EUPHA member account or via the subscription link on our webpages here. For more information, please see the Section website. If you are interested in actively contributing to the work of the PHPP Section, please express your interest using this form.
Sofia Ribeiro, Rana Orhan and Damir Ivanković
EUPHAnxt interview with Health workforce research section president Marius Ungureanu
During the European Public Health Conference in Dublin, Ireland, EUPHAnxt had the pleasure of talking with Marius Ungureanu, MD, PhD, the new president of the EUPHA Health workforce research section. We asked him about the section’s future plans and his position on some of the burning issues of today’s state of the health and care workforce in Europe and beyond. Read the interview here.
Upcoming EUPHA webinars
Keep an eye on the EUPHA webinar webpage here.
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3. European Public Health Week
This year’s European Public Health Week has the overarching topic “Health is a political choice!”. With millions of Europeans heading to the polls this year, the importance of putting health (back) on all agendas has never been more pressing if we want to advocate for better health. We will open the conversation with a kick-off event in Brussels, hosted by the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies (with live online streaming). Throughout the week, we will explore different daily themes – all in the context of our overarching weekly topic and the focus of the 2024 European Public Health Conference – innovation.
Daily themes and partners (Further information on daily partners will follow soon).
Get involved
We would love to have you involved! You can do so in one of three ways: host an event, spread the word, or join an event. For more information, please see our page or get in touch ([email protected]).
Stay up-to-date
If you wish to receive the newest updates on the EUPHW, you can subscribe to our EUPHW newsletter by sending a short e-mail to [email protected].
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4. European Public Health Conference
17th EPH CONFERENCE, LISBON, PORTUGAL
Next webinar ‘Sailing to Lisbon 2024’: 27 March 2024, 11:00 CET
Join us for our monthly webinar series titled ‘Sailing to Lisbon 2024’ on 27 March, 11:00 CET. Theme of the second webinar: Urban health. More details will be announced shortly on our website.
Abtract submission is open
Abstract submission for the 17th EPH Conference 2024 is open from 1 February until 1 May 2024, 18:00 CET. Abstracts are invited for workshops, oral presentations, pitch presentations and ePosters. All sessions will be 60 minutes. Do not miss the opportunity to be recognized for your hard work. Learn from each other and share your knowledge with others. More information here.
Abstract tutoring programme
EPH Conference and EUPHAnxt offer an Abstract Tutoring Programme providing an opportunity for young and/or less experienced abstract submitters to receive feedback from experienced reviewers. The programme is targeted at researchers who have limited access to colleagues to ask for guidance and comments on their proposed abstracts. More information here.
Registration
Registration for the 17th EPH Conference opens 1 April 2024. Registration fees will be announced on our website.
Theme and programme
The 17th EPH Conference will be held in Lisbon, Portugal, from 12 – 15 November 2024. Note that from 2024 onwards main EPH Conferences will be held from Wednesday to Friday. Pre-conferences will be held on Tuesday 12 November. The main conference is from 13 – 15 November. Theme of the EPH conference 2024 is: Sailing the waves of European public health: exploring a sea of innovation. The conference will be held at the Lisbon Congress Center (CCL). Read more here.
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5. European Journal of Public Health
Volume 34, Issue 1, February 2024
EDITORIAL
VIEWPOINTS
SOCIAL DETERMINANTS
HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH
PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY
CHILD AND ADOLESCENT HEALTH
MENTAL HEALTH
WORK AND HEALTH
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURES
VACCINATION
COVID-19
EDITOR’S CHOICE
THANK YOU TO REVIEWERS
EUROPEAN PUBLIC HEALTH NEWS
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6. Call for proposals, job opportunities
EU4Health call for tenders to build capacity and knowledge for the implementation of the EU Health Technology Assessment Regulation (HTAR).
HaDEA has published the call for tenders HADEA/2023/OP/0032 – Building capacity and knowledge for the implementation of the EU Health Technology Assessment Regulation (HTAR)
This call aims to:
More information here.
Call for experts in Open Science Practices for Health Research?
The EPIC (Enhancing Palliative Care in Intensive Care Units) project kicked off in January 2024, and we’re seeking an Open Science expert to take part in a webinar for our consortium members! Are you interested in sharing your knowledge of Open Science with our consortium? Get in touch with Fodhla ([email protected]) to discuss.
Call for expression of interest – Members representing non-governmental organisations in the Advisory Forum of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). More information here.
The European Commission invites health stakeholders to submit proposals for a new cycle of Thematic Networks under the EU Health Policy Platform framework
The European Commission invites health stakeholders to submit proposals for a new cycle of Thematic Networks under the EU Health Policy Platform framework.
Thematic Networks are created for stakeholder organisations to collaborate and produce a Joint Statement on a specific issue. The statement summarises their position and proposes actions in one of the following public health areas:
The European Commission may also consider proposals from other health policy areas if stakeholders provide sound reasons and evidence.
Deadline for submission: 3 April 2024, 23.59 CET, Brussels time.
Junior Research Position Digital Technology to Support Preference-Sensitive Decision-Making in Health Care at the Institute of Biomedical Ethics and History of Medicine (IBME) of the University of Zurich
The Institute of Biomedical Ethics and History of Medicine (IBME) of the University of Zurich is currently seeking a junior research fellow to join our team. The successful applicant will embark on an interdisciplinary project (including ethicists, data scientists, and clinicians) aimed at exploring the integration of digital technology within the context of shared and/or advance decision-making in clinical settings. This project is focused on the development, testing and use of digital applications with human-computer interaction methodologies in (neuro-)intensive care scenarios.
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7. Interesting news
PROPHET Mapping Results workshop , 14 March 2024, online
PROPHETis a Coordination and Support Action funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme ‘Staying healthy in a rapidly changing society’ and is aligned with the International Consortium for Personalised Medicine (ICPerMed).
The overall objective of the “Personalised Prevention Roadmap for the future healthcare in Europe” (PROPHET) project is to design a Strategic Research Innovation Agenda (SRIA), co-created together with a large panel of stakeholders gathered in the PROPHET Stakeholder Forum, to adopt Personalized Prevention approaches in EU health systems. Personalised prevention strategies are in fact only possible if citizens, health professionals and policy makers are all aware of their potential and have the knowledge and resources to design and implement them.
We are pleased to invite you to participate to our workshop on mapping results organised online on 14 March 2024, from 12:00 to 14:00. The primary aim of this workshop, arranged by Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (UCSC), Rome, Italy, is to present all the mapping results carried out by partners and to gather inputs from external stakeholders. You can cllick here for the agenda.
Launch of the HEALTH-IQ project in Greece: improving quality of care across the WHO European Region
WHO/Europe, through its Athens Office on Quality of Care and Patient Safety, in collaboration with the Government and Ministry of Health of Greece, is hosting the launch event for the Development and Implementation of a Framework for Quality of Care (HEALTH-IQ) project.
This launch event is designed to provide a comprehensive overview of the programme’s objectives, revealing the strategic plan for the upcoming 3 years. The programme is set to continue until December 2025 and beyond. Read more here.
SHARP Joint Action finishes with a set of recommendations for national- and EU-level policymakers
SHARP Joint Action ended in September 2023. The project started in 2019 and was heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of the 61 partners of the project were involved in the COVID-19 response efforts in their own countries. Regardless of the difficulties of collaborating during a time of exceptional circumstances, the project managed to strengthen participating countries’ capacities and contribute to a safer Europe to all its citizens. Read more here.
February 29th, like the day itself, is the Rare Disease Day!
Raising awareness and generating change for the 300 million people worldwide living with a rare disease, their families and carers. Read more here.
Honorary Fellowships of RCSI Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery awarded to global experts in health
The awards were conferred on Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, Professor Sir Michael Marmot CH, Dr Diana-Loreta Păun and Dr Amelia Latu Afuhaamango Tuipulotu at the Faculty’s 43rd Annual International Nursing and Midwifery Research and Education Conference at St Stephen’s Green, Dublin. Read more here.
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8. Upcoming courses and conferences
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9. Interesting publications
Wearable sensors reveal how stressful situations affect the brain
Mental health issues, many of which are stress-induced, are a significant healthcare challenge. The EU-funded STRESNET project developed techniques to help patients reduce the impact of stress-related memories. The work could lead to preventive interventions that increase our resilience to stress, reducing the burden of mental illness and disease. Read more here.
Embedding resilience in health system performance assessment (HSPA) frameworks can improve adaptability, inclusiveness, and responsiveness to emerging challenges
Health systems around the world are facing challenges in achieving their goals. In the wake of the coronavirus disease pandemic, the need for resilient health systems has become even more apparent. This article argues that embedding resilience into health system performance assessment (HSPA) frameworks can be a valuable approach for improving health system performance. This perspective examines key challenges threatening health systems and makes a case for the continued relevance of HSPA by embedding resilience-related performance intelligence. Read more here.
THIS institute’s open-access series, Elements of Improving Quality and Safety in Healthcare, brings together critical evidence-based overviews of a diverse range of healthcare improvement approaches
This Element examines various approaches to spreading, scaling-up, and sustaining improvements in healthcare, noting their strengths and limitations. It shares case studies to highlight how different ways of viewing spread and scale-up can make a difference in practice. This Element will help improvement practitioners and researchers in understanding what makes for sustainable and scalable initiatives and interventions. Read more here.
Quality indicators for evaluating cancer care in low-income and middle-income country settings: a multinational modified Delphi study
This Policy Review sourced opinions from experts in cancer care across low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) to build consensus around high-priority measures of care quality. A comprehensive list of quality indicators in medical, radiation, and surgical oncology was identified from systematic literature reviews. A modified Delphi study consisting of three 90-min workshops and two international electronic surveys integrating a global range of key clinical, policy, and research leaders was used to derive consensus on cancer quality indicators that would be both feasible to collect and were high priority for cancer care systems in LMICs. Read more here.
Why do cities matter for adolescent mental health and well-being?
The health and wellbeing of young people during adolescence, the period between ages 10 and 19 years, constitute major determinants in their future life prospects. WHO estimates that 35% of the total global burden of disease can be traced back to adolescence. Promotion of good mental health among adolescents is crucial to their wellbeing, as mental health problems now account for over a third of the total burden of disease in adolescents. Read more here.
Rethinking health and care systems: Building more resilient, innovative and person-centred services
The challenge for health services in building back from the impacts of the covid-19 pandemic goes beyond simply recovering the performance of services or reducing backlogs in care to pre-pandemic levels. There is an opportunity to reorient health and care services to ensure more resilient, innovative, and people-centred health and care systems. Read more here.
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10. European Institutions’ news
Special Address via video message by Commissioner Stella Kyriakides to the event organised by the European Society of Paediatric Oncology to mark International Childhood Cancer Day
Read the address here.
Webinars by the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies
Click here to view the webinar of 20 February on Engaging the private sector in delivering health care and goods: Governance lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the request of the European Commission, the Observatory is running a public debate on the future health priorities of the European Union. A series of webinars has just wrapped up, and a survey will follow shortly. To make sure you are invited to participate, please subscribe here.
Health Systems and Policy Monitor (HSPM) of the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies
The HSPM is an innovative platform that provides a detailed description of health systems and provides up-to-date information on reforms and changes that are particularly policy relevant. For detailed information on country policy responses to the COVID-19 pandemic during 2020-2021, see our separate COVID-19 Health Systems Response Monitor (HSRM). Here are some of the latest reports:
How do we promote statistical literacy? What does quality mean for statistics?
And how does the EU cooperate with its neighbours and enlargement countries in the field of statistics? How do people and companies in Europe use the Internet and digital technologies? What is experimental statistics?
If interested in (some of) these questions, make sure to listen to Season 2 of EuroStat’s “Stats in a Wrap” podcast here.
To mark Cervical Cancer Awareness Month in January, the European Commission held a webinar to raise awareness of the benefits of HPV vaccination
Gathering around 100 people online, the aim of this webinar was to empower health and medical students from across the EU with the knowledge and skills they need to promote the benefits of human papillomavirus(HPV) vaccination, in line with the objectives of the #UnitedInProtection campaign. The webinar was organised just days ahead of the Commission proposal for a Council Recommendation on vaccine-preventable cancers, as a deliverable of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan. Read more here.
The commission recommends new measures on vaccine-preventable cancers under Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan
The European Commission is putting forward a Recommendation to support Member States in their efforts to prevent cancer through vaccination. Notably, it focuses on boosting the uptake of two key vaccinations that can prevent viral infections that may lead to cancer: against Human papillomaviruses (HPV) and Hepatitis B virus (HBV), as well as improving the monitoring of coverage rates. Read more here.
AMR: New platform for collection of sales and use data of antimicrobials in animals
EMA has just launched the new Antimicrobial Sales and Use (ASU) Platform to support the collection of data by Member States on the sales and use of antimicrobials in animals. Read more here.
Medical devices: Council endorses new measures to help prevent shortages
The Council has endorsed key updates to the law on medical devices that will help prevent shortages and ease the transition to greater transparency and access to information. Read more here.
EU Global Health Strategy: Council approves conclusions
The Council today approved conclusions on the ‘EU Global Health Strategy: Better health for all in a changing world’, in which it reaffirms the leading role of the EU and its member states in advancing global health.
The Council acknowledges that physical and mental health is a human right and that health is a prerequisite for sustainable development. Read more here.
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11. European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control news
Eurosurveillance – Volume 29, Issue 8, 22 February 2024
Rapid communication
Surveillance
Research
Perspective
Eurosurveillance – Volume 29, Issue 7, 15 February 2024
Rapid communication
Surveillance
Perspective
Letter
Eurosurveillance – Volume 29, Issue 6, 08 February 2024
Rapid communication
Surveillance
Research
Eurosurveillance – Volume 29, Issue 5, 1 February 2024
Rapid communication
Outbreaks
Systematic Review
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12. WHO news
New series highlights the importance of a positive postnatal experience for all women and newborns
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN’s Special Programme on Human Reproduction (HRP) have launched a new series on maternal and newborn care for a positive postnatal care experience. Read more here.
WHO launches data visualisation dashboard on antimicrobial resistance and use
The 2015 global action plan on antimicrobial resistance (1) stresses the need to strengthen the evidence base on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and use (AMU) through surveillance and research. Comprehensive and quality-assured data on the global and national incidence, prevalence and patterns of AMR in bacterial and fungal infections, as well as the quantity and way in which antimicrobials are used, are essential to address AMR. These data are needed to understand the extent of the problem and its drivers, detect trends and emerging threats, define targets and measure the impact of interventions. Read more here.
WHO releases new guidance on monitoring the social determinants of health equity
The World Health Organization (WHO) has released an operational framework for monitoring social determinants of health equity and actions addressing them. This critical new guidance aims to support countries in evidence-based policymaking to improve health equity, towards the goal of enabling everyone, everywhere, to attain the highest possible standard of health and well-being. Read more here.
The updated WHO Benchmarks for Strengthening Health Emergency Capacities expanded to include public health and social measures (PHSM).
The updated WHO Benchmarks for Strengthening Health Emergency Capacities was published to support the implementation of the International Health Regulations (IHR) and the health emergency prevention, preparedness, response and resilience capacities. Taking on board the lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic and other recent health emergencies, the benchmarks expanded to reflect closer alignment with International Health Regulations 2005 (IHR) monitoring and evaluation framework, the health systems for health security framework, disaster risk management, and the health emergency prevention, preparedness, response and resilience (HEPR) framework. Read more here.
The global cancer burden growing amidst the mounting need for services
Ahead of World Cancer Day, the World Health Organization (WHO)’s cancer agency, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), released the latest estimates of the global burden of cancer. WHO also published survey results from 115 countries, showing a majority of countries do not adequately finance priority cancer and palliative care services, as part of universal health coverage (UHC). Read more here.
WHO awards countries for progress in eliminating industrially produced trans fats for the first time
WHO has awarded its first-ever certificates validating progress in eliminating industrially produced trans fatty-acids to five countries. Denmark, Lithuania, Poland, Saudi Arabia, and Thailand have each demonstrated they have a best practice policy for industrially produced trans-fatty acids (iTFA) elimination in effect, supported by adequate monitoring and enforcement systems. WHO also released results from the first five years of its REPLACE initiative to eliminate iTFA. Read more here.
World Tuberculosis (TB) Day is 24 March. The 2024 continues with the theme “Yes! We can end TB”
World Tuberculosis (TB) Day, 24 March 2024, continues with the theme “Yes! We can end TB”. TB is still one of the world’s deadliest diseases and recent years have seen a worrying increase in drug-resistant TB. Read more here.
Creating a regional collaborative front for harnessing health innovations: WHO/Europe Innovation Ecosystem for Public Health meeting
The WHO European Region is facing complex health challenges that require innovative and transformative approaches to meet the needs of the population. This need for thinking out of the box, and championing opportunities for innovation and technological advancements, is the backdrop of the WHO/Europe Innovation Ecosystem for Public Health meeting to be held in Copenhagen on 11–12 March. The event serves as a platform for stakeholders to collectively address pressing public health challenges through innovative approaches and emerging technologies. It presents a unique opportunity to inspire the innovation ecosystem community, including innovation centres and hubs, to collaborate with WHO and tackle the complex challenges facing the Region. Read more here.
Türkiye earthquakes – 1 year on
The initial 7.7 magnitude earthquake was the most powerful recorded in Türkiye in 84 years. Its impact was devastating across a huge area: 11 provinces in Türkiye were affected, more than 50 000 people lost their lives (including over 7000 refugees, many of whom were Syrian), more than 100 000 were injured, and approximately 1 million people lost their homes. Read more here.
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