EuroHealthNet Annual Seminar 2023: Making progress on health equity

Agenda

13:30 – 14.00 Registration and networking  

14.00 – 14.15 Welcome and introductions  

• Bjørn Guldvog, Director General of Norwegian Directorate of Health 
• Prof. Dr. Martin Dietrich, President of EuroHealthNet 

14.15 – 15.15 Session 1: Target setting and policy making in the field of NCDs and health determinants 

Moderated by Dr. Mojca Gabrijelčič Blenkuš, Honorary Advisor of EuroHealthNet 

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) put a tremendous and increasing strain on health and social protection systems, economic development, and well-being of large population groups. Despite a decline in mortality due to the four major NCDs (cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancers and chronic respiratory diseases) in the European Region since the mid-2000s, Europe still has the highest NCDs burden in the world. Action is needed across all sectors and settings to mitigate, prevent and control NCDs – for all. Data, monitoring frameworks and targets are important tools in this regard.  

This session will feature presentations aimed to discuss the state of play at the EU and WHO European region level, revising the NCDs reduction targets, and capitalising on successes while reflecting on challenges for policy-makers and practitioners in health promotion and prevention in Europe. 

• Prof. Knut Inge Klepp, Executive Director at Norwegian Institute of Public Health – ‘Reducing the burden of NCDs at a personal and societal level: Ambitious intention to reduce health inequalities across Europe’ 
• Dr. Jessica Allen, Deputy Director of the Institute of Health Equity at University College London – ‘Reducing inequalities in NCDs through action on the social determinants’ 
• Dr. Gauden Galea, Special Advisor on NCDs and Dr. Kira Fortune, Regional Advisor - Healthy Cities, Health Promotion and Well-being, WHO European Office – Target setting as a tool to mobilise political leaders for public health measures that can reduce the burden of NCDs 

Discussion 

15.15 – 15.45 Coffee/ Tea break 

15.45 – 16.45 Session 2: Target setting and policy making in the field of Climate Change and Health

Moderated by Dr. Sumina Azam, Vice-President of EuroHealthNet 

Climate change poses huge threats to public health, through factors such as air pollution, heat stress, extreme weather events, food supply and safety, and vector-borne diseases. These environmental impacts on our health are unequally distributed, and it is critical for policymakers across sectors to work together to adapt and mitigate these challenges in ways which promote our health and reduce inequalities. 

This session will discuss how health policymakers and the health community in general could play a more prominent role regarding the upcoming COP28 and help drive the climate agenda, achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement and the European Green Deal. 

• Introductory video message from Dr. María Neira, WHO Assistant Director-General a.i. Healthier Populations Division and Member of the Advisory Panel for the UN Global Climate Action Awards 
• Prof. Tanja Winther, Center of Development and the Environment at University of Oslo and Head of Include – ‘Energy and social inequality’ 
• Dr. Remco van de Pas, Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Planetary Health Policy – ‘Reorienting policies and targets for healthier people and planet’ 
• Dr. Marco Martuzzi, Director of the Environment & Health Department at ISS – ‘The role of public health in shaping and driving the climate and health research and action agenda’ 

Discussion

16.45 – 17.00 Final conclusions

• Caroline Costongs, Director of EuroHealthNet
• Øyvind Giæver, Director of the Department of Social Determinants, Norwegian

17.00 – 17.30 Non-alcoholic afterwork drinks and snacks