Strengthening strategies and skills for health promoting systems – EuroHealthNet Annual Report 2022 – 2023
Building a healthier future for all by addressing the determinants of health and reducing inequalities.
EuroHealthNet is the Partnership of public health agencies and organisations building a healthier future for all by addressing the determinants of health and reducing inequalities. Our focus is on preventing disease and promoting good health by looking within and beyond the health system.
Structuring our work over a policy, practice, and research platform, we focus on exploring and strengthening the links between these areas.
EuroHealthNet takes a broad, integrated approach to health and health equity, working on social and environmental determinants across the life course, whilst contributing to the sustainability and wellbeing of people and the planet.
This annual report describes our activities between June 2022 and June 2023.
Strengthening strategies and skills
In the aftermath of the pandemic, societies struggle with widening inequalities, higher rates of mental health problems and overburdened health systems, as well as new crises such as war, rising costs of living, and climate breakdown. Meanwhile, our way of living and consuming continue to destabilise the environmental systems. In addition technological developments that although offer great benefits, also risk leaving some individuals behind. So, are our public health strategies and skills still fit for purpose in this new context?
EuroHealthNet advocates for systemic approaches to address these interrelated crises, based on the Wellbeing Economy. Such approaches prioritise prevention and address root causes rather than trying to fix problems later.
We support health professionals to build skills to strengthen health promotion and contribute to a fair green and digital transition. Over the past year, the relevance of public health and that of our Partnership has become more apparent than ever. We will continue to contribute to build strong foundations for healthier, more sustainable and just societies.
EuroHealthNet Annual Seminar 2022
Our 2022 Annual Seminar brought together more than 100 experts and policymakers to discuss how societies can overcome the current crises and come out stronger on the other side. Investments are needed to:
- Secure conditions for health equity and wellbeing for young people.
- Prioritise public investments for healthy and active ageing.
- Turn current uncertainties into opportunities for strength through concepts such as the Economy of Wellbeing.
Strategising the Partnership’s work
Our annual Policy and Strategy Meeting gathered Members and representatives of the EU and WHO to take stock of expected EU initiatives in 2023 and strategise our collaboration to ensure health equity is at the heart of EU decision-making.
Participants discussed initiatives in the context of the green and digital transition, including the European Pillar of Social Rights Action plan, the European Care Strategy, the EU Recovery and Resilience plans, and WHO’s work on the Wellbeing Economy.
General Council Meeting 2022
Our 2022 General Council Meeting convened 42 delegates from across the Partnership to debate developments in public health, discuss activities and make progress on the Strategic Development Plan 2021-26.
Members elected a new President, Prof. Dr. Martin Dietrich, Acting Director of the German Federal Centre for Health Education (BZgA). The new EuroHealthNet Workplace Gender, Equality and Diversity Policy was also adopted, designed to help the Partnership build an inclusive workplace.
Thematic Working Groups
Thematic Working Groups (TWIGs) provide a space for EuroHealthNet Members to collaborate on strategies and building skills.
- The ‘Social Marketing to Address Addictions’ TWIG organised a workshop on tobacco and nicotine reduction at the French Public Health Days 2023.
- The ‘Healthy Living Environments’ TWIG leads a work package in the new EU Joint Action on Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) and Social Determinants.
- The Best Practice Portals TWIG published its first scientific article and hosted a workshop at the European Public Health Conference.
Our 2022/2023 achievements
EuroHealthNet activities take place across three platforms covering policy, practice, and research. In addition, a core team unifies and builds connections between the platforms, including communications activities to share and support the exchange of knowledge and experience.
Policy
The Policy Platform provides policy monitoring and analysis for the EuroHealthNet Partnership and aims to ensure that WHO/Europe and EU initiatives contribute to health equity. This includes:
Providing expert analysis and insights on policy initiatives such as the European Pillar of Social Rights and the Semester that help prepare for current and future challenges. We published several policy précis' and briefings on topics including health-promoting care, vaccine equity, the cost of living, and psychosocial wellbeing of workers.
Delivering intelligence to Members to support their understanding of policy developments and participation in political debates. Members-only briefings covered the EU NCDs initiative, EU funding, the Swedish EU Presidency, and the European Health Data Space.
Engaging with WHO/Europe and EU-level policy makers to discuss priorities, share evidence and influence policy agendas. We responded to 20 EU policy consultations on topics including food systems, mental health, and air quality.
Engaging with stakeholders to discuss policy issues and form shared responses as well as continuing our work with WHO/Europe under our Memorandum of Understanding.
Practice
The Practice Platform helps to implement effective strategies, programmes, and initiatives to promote health and reduce inequalities. This includes:
Strengthening strategies to address societal challenges. We held two Members-only Country Exchanges Visits (CEVs) on workplaces for older people and on delivering integrated care in the community.
Organising a capacity-building training on participatory processes to design and implement public health initiatives. We helped Members access EU funding and offered expertise in financing health-promoting services.
Expanding knowledge and skills for action on health equity through new Horizon Europe projects exploring topics such as vaccine equity, finance models for health, health promotion in schools, digital health, and mental wellbeing.
Expanding our Partnership by exploring opportunities for outreach work by engaging with current and prospective members and wider European networks.
Research
The Research Platform provides the evidence base to develop policies and practices that promote health and wellbeing. This includes:
Informing our Partnership of funding opportunities and helping build research consortia. We hosted an information and matchmaking day for Members to learn about Horizon Europe opportunities.
Generating evidence and tools to mitigate the health impact of climate change through Horizon Europe research projects focused on facilitating individual action, the socioeconomic costs of air pollution, human health, and coastal waters, and sustainable food systems.
Bridging research, policy, and practice as a partner of the Centre for Global Health Inequalities Research (CHAIN).
Profiling our partnership and raising awareness of the links between climate, justice, and health as well as promoting social prescribing through our extensive participation at the 2022 European Public Health Conference.
Activities to reach out and connect
The EuroHealthNet communication unit amplifies the voices of our Partnership on health equity. This includes:
Connecting experts and facilitating exchange through Member-only initiatives such as EuroHealthNet’s Members-only Communications Network and Network Intelligence newsletter.
Disseminating reliable, evidence-based, and timely information through our Health Inequalities Portal, press releases and our Health Highlights newsletter. We continue to work on the accessibility of our work.
Giving a voice to the public health sector by telling the stories behind the developments in health equity, public health, and health promotion through EuroHealthNet Magazine.
Establishing strong media relations by working closely with EU media bodies and other communication and media outlets.