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New procedure to accredit regional non-State actors not in official relations with WHO to the WHO Regional Committee for Europe 08-11-2017
The 67th WHO Regional Committee for Europe, which took place on 11–14 September 2017 in Budapest, Hungary, endorsed a procedure to accredit regional non-State actors not in official relations with WHO to participate in meetings of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe (Document EUR/RC67/17 Rev.1 and Resolution EUR/RC67/R7 on “Partnerships for health in the WHO European Region”), in line with paragraph 57 of the WHO Framework of Engagement with Non-State Actors (Resolution WHA69.10).
RC67 concludes: “Our message is reaching further and higher” 18-09-2017
“Our message is reaching further and higher” These are the words of WHO Regional Director for Europe Dr Zsuzsanna Jakab in her concluding address to the 67th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe (RC67). “Health is a political choice,” she added, “and our political leaders are listening, and taking up the call to action.”
Day 4 highlights: partnerships essential in our “multisectoral, multidimensional world” 14-09-2017
Member States enthusiastically endorsed a renewed vision for partnerships for health in the WHO European Region on the final day of the 67th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe.
Day 3 highlights: “The health workforce is the beating heart of any health system” 13-09-2017
On the third day of the 67th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe, countries agreed to transform the health workforce in the WHO European Region to ensure that it is sustainable and able to respond to current and future health needs.
Day 2 highlights: Director-General outlines key health priorities 12-09-2017
In a plenary address, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus laid out his mission for WHO: “To keep the world safe, improve health and serve the vulnerable”. Engaging political leadership for health was a defining theme on the second day of the 67th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe. Delegates also adopted the Roadmap to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Day 1 highlights: RC67 opens 11-09-2017
Strong partnerships and collaboration to deliver on ambitious health goals – this was the recurring theme emphasized by high-level speakers and delegates on the first day of the 67th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe (RC67).
67th session of WHO Regional Committee for Europe opens in Budapest 10-09-2017
Her Royal Highness The Crown Princess of Denmark and the WHO Regional Director for Europe open the 67th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe on 11 September 2017. Health leaders from all over the WHO European Region, including the European Union, central and eastern Europe, the Caucasus and central Asia gather in Budapest, Hungary, to take decisions on health priorities that will have an impact on the health and well-being of about 900 million people.
European leaders set new roadmap to achieve 2030 Agenda and improve 900 million people’s health and well-being 07-09-2017
Health leaders gather at the annual meeting of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe. In Budapest, Hungary on 11–14 September 2017 they will take decisions on health priorities that will have an impact on the health and well-being of about 900 million people in the WHO European Region, including in the European Union, central and eastern Europe, the Caucasus and central Asia.
WHO Director-General makes first visit to WHO/Europe in Copenhagen 01-09-2017
On 31 August, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made his first visit to the WHO Regional Office for Europe in Copenhagen since assuming the role of WHO Director-General. Speaking to WHO/Europe staff, Dr Tedros underlined that political engagement is key to achieving progress on health, and he has sought to raise health onto the highest political agendas since taking office.
Regional Committee: making decisions on key health priorities for the European Region 29-08-2017
On 11 September 2017 in Budapest, Hungary, health ministers and high-level representatives of the 53 Member States of the WHO European Region, along with partner organizations and civil society, will gather for the annual WHO Regional Committee for Europe. The committees provide an opportunity to discuss and make decisions related to key health priorities in the Region. In this year’s 67th session, and in alignment with the Health 2020 policy framework and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, participants will consider topics ranging from building a sustainable health workforce to improving the environment and health.
Together for a healthier world: Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus speaks at European Development Days 07-07-2017
During European Development Days (EDD) on 7–8 June 2017 in Brussels, Belgium, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, then WHO Director-General elect, addressed the international development community. He reminded them that health is a fundamental human right and central to development, both globally and within the European Union (EU).
Dr Tedros takes office as WHO Director-General 05-07-2017
On 1 July Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus took office as Director-General of the World Health Organization, succeeding Dr Margaret Chan, who has held office since 1 January 2007.The Director-General is WHO's chief technical and administrative officer and oversees the policy for the Organization's international health work.
Day 3 of Environment and Health Conference: Commitments to advance the agenda in Europe 16-06-2017
After 3 days of discussions and deliberations, the Sixth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health drew to a close. The participants took stock of the progress made on environment and health in the WHO European Region, as well as committing the Region to further action, culminating in the signing of the Ostrava Declaration.
Closing remarks at the Sixth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health, by Dr Zsuzsanna Jakab, WHO Regional Director for Europe 16-06-2017
The Ostrava Declaration has just been signed. With this symbolic gesture, we have sealed this voluntary commitment to make Europe a better place in which citizens will enjoy better health, better environments and be able to pursue sustainable choices.
Day 2 of Environment and Health Conference: Addressing inequalities, good governance, rights and resilience 15-06-2017
On the second day of the Sixth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health, participants explored the role of communities and national and regional authorities in strengthening resilience. Discussions focused on the global relevance of environment and health policy in Europe and how to stimulate changing patterns of consumption towards sustainable development.
Day 1 of Environment and Health Conference: Taking stock of the past to transform the future 14-06-2017
Opening the Sixth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health, Dr Zsuzsanna Jakab, WHO Regional Director for Europe, drew parallels between the host city’s industrial past and modern regeneration, and the “transformative spirit of the Agenda for Sustainable Development”. Health and environment experts are gathered in Ostrava, Czech Republic to track progress and prioritize future action on environmental risks to health.
United Nations agencies urge Europe’s action on 1.4 million annual deaths from polluted environments 13-06-2017
The World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe (WHO/Europe), the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) call on European leaders to scale up action to prevent environment-related deaths and diseases affecting their populations. Each year, at least 1.4 million Europeans die prematurely due to polluted environments; this corresponds to at least 15% of Europe’s total deaths. Around half of these deaths are due to outdoor and indoor air pollution. Altogether, European citizens lose annually 50 million years of healthy life from environmental risks.
World Environment Day: health is intrinsically linked to the environment 05-06-2017
Globally, an estimated 24% of the burden of disease and 23% of all deaths can be attributed to environmental factors. These include air and water pollution, hazardous chemicals, waste and climate change. On the contrary, interventions to protect and preserve the environment can directly improve health.
World Health Assembly Day 9: Assembly closes after 9 days covering 78 agenda items 01-06-2017
Member States adopted numerous decisions and plans on a wide range of public health issues during the Seventieth World Health Assembly, which closed on 31 May 2017. Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus was elected as the new Director-General of WHO, and will begin his 5-year term on 1 July 2017.
World Health Assembly Day 8: progress on addressing noncommunicable diseases in focus 31-05-2017
Delegates endorsed an updated set of policy options and interventions to help countries meet global targets to prevent and control noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). It places a particular focus on measures to reduce people’s exposure to factors that increase the risk of developing NCDs. These include taxing tobacco and sugar-sweetened beverages, banning tobacco advertising and reformulating food products to reduce salt content.
World Health Assembly Day 7: global action plan on response to dementia agreed 30-05-2017
On 29 May 2017, delegates agreed on a global action plan to ensure that work to address dementia is prioritized. In 2015, dementia affected 47 million people worldwide. This is set to increase to 75 million in 2030. The action plan requires Member States to develop, strengthen and implement policies for dementia; respect the equity, dignity and human rights of people with the disease; and support the needs of carers.
World Health Assembly Day 5 & 6: delegates discuss International Health Regulations, human resources 29-05-2017
Decisions taken by delegates at the World Health Assembly focused on implementing the International Health Regulations (IHR) (2005) and improving the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of sepsis. Delegates emphasized the urgent need to achieve full implementation of the IHR. Public health prizes were also awarded.
World Health Assembly Day 4: polio, pandemic influenza preparedness and health workforce in focus 29-05-2017
On Day 4 of the World Health Assembly, delegates made decisions relating to poliomyelitis (polio), the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Framework and the health workforce. Side events focused on neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).
World Health Assembly Day 3: WHO priorities aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 26-05-2017
Delegates at the World Health Assembly approved the Organization’s proposed programme budget of US$4421.5 million for the biennium 2018-2019. This proposed budget sets out the Organization’s priorities in line with the Sustainable Development Goals. It includes increased investments in the new WHO Health Emergencies Programme and combatting antimicrobial resistance.
World Health Assembly Day 2: Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus elected new Director-General 24-05-2017
On 23 May 2017, the Member States of WHO elected Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus as the new Director-General of WHO.
World Health Assembly elects Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus as new WHO Director-General 24-05-2017
On 23 May 2017, the Member States of WHO elected Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus as the new Director-General of WHO.
World Health Assembly Day 1: outgoing Director-General Chan says “reducing inequalities” should guide future health work 23-05-2017
Some 3500 delegates from WHO’s 194 Member States – including a large proportion of the world’s health ministers – are attending the Seventieth World Health Assembly, which ends on 31 May. They are debating ways to advance the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), focusing on building better systems for health.
Seventieth World Health Assembly opens today 22-05-2017
The Seventieth World Health Assembly opens in Geneva, Switzerland, at 9:30 am on Monday 22 May 2017. It will close on Wednesday 31 May. Delegations from all 194 WHO Member States, including the 53 Member States of the WHO European Region, will meet to discuss, review progress and agree on action regarding global health issues.
Reducing the SDG reporting burden: WHO/Europe’s initiative presented at the Regional Forum on Sustainable Development 09-05-2017
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development underscores the importance of “quality, accessible, timely and reliable disaggregated data … to help with the measurement of progress and to ensure that no one is left behind” (Paragraph 48). Improving the collection, coordination, analysis and dissemination of data and building statistical capacities for monitoring progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) remain significant challenges for all countries in the WHO European Region and beyond.

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