News

Day 4 highlights: countries at the centre of health work 20-09-2018

“It is now clearer than ever that we need to be bolder and reach further, to engage effectively with all those that have a stake in health,” said Dr Zsuzsanna Jakab on the final day of RC68. Many non-State actors were accredited to attend future sessions of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe, and Member States applauded the work of country offices.

European Region on track to ending violence against children, but greater commitment and more action still needed 20-09-2018

A new WHO progress report on preventing child maltreatment suggests that the WHO European Region is on track to achieve a 20% reduction by 2020. The projections are based on homicide trend data, which is used as one of the baselines to assess progress. The report estimates that 629 homicides of children younger than 15 years took place in the Region in 2015, which is an improvement from the previous estimate established in 2014.

Day 3 highlights: Strategy on the health and well-being of men in the WHO European Region adopted 19-09-2018

Why do men die prematurely, and what can be done to change this? And how do we advance public health to meet future societal needs? The Region now has stronger tools to answer these questions, following today’s adoption of the Strategy on the health and well-being of men and a 10-point action plan on public health.

Day 2 highlights: strengthening health systems to advance the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development 18-09-2018

“For us, the goal of universal health coverage is the lodestar of our health policy,” said His Excellency Prime Minister Edi Rama of Albania. From improving vaccine coverage to ensuring financial protection, strengthening health systems was a key theme on Day 2 of the 68th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe.

New WHO progress report reveals the major health challenges currently facing children and adolescents in Europe 18-09-2018

The latest WHO progress report “Situation of child and adolescent health in Europe” gives an overview of child and adolescent health in the WHO European Region, revealing a number of issues of concern.

Day 1 highlights: RC68 opens 17-09-2018

“Health investment is the smartest investment – it pays off,” said WHO Regional Director for Europe Dr Zsuzsanna Jakab in her opening address on the first day of the 68th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe. This was a common theme also raised by the WHO Director-General and delegates alike.

Too many European men die young from preventable causes – WHO report reveals 17-09-2018

The first ever WHO report on men’s health and well-being in the 53 countries of the WHO European Region reveals men are living healthier and longer lives than ever before. But despite progress, many of them die far too young from preventable causes, and the reasons behind this go beyond biology.

New issue of Panorama: reducing the burden of NCDs in Europe 14-09-2018

The new issue of Public Health Panorama is dedicated to the highly topical issue of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and the progress the WHO European Region has made in combatting them.

Europe tops rankings on life satisfaction index, but findings expose not for all and not everywhere, WHO says 14-09-2018

WHO Regional Committee for Europe annual meeting in Rome will discuss new findings on health and well-being of people in Europe and track progress against key health targets

Ireland builds capacity to improve men’s health 12-09-2018

In 2008, the Irish Government released the National Men’s Health Policy 2008–2013, which included strategies for engaging men in self-care. Within this framework, the Government recently rolled out a new training programme called ENGAGE to improve the capacity of health providers and improve men’s access to and use of health services.

Europeans live longer and healthier lives but progress is uneven, new WHO report says 11-09-2018

WHO’s flagship publication, the European health report 2018, welcomes an increase in life expectancy and reductions in premature mortality, but warns that smoking, alcohol, overweight and obesity and under-vaccination are hindering progress in some countries.

Crown Princess of Denmark to address WHO/Europe’s annual meeting of ministers 10-09-2018

Her Royal Highness The Crown Princess of Denmark will address the 68th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe on 17 September 2018, in her capacity as WHO/Europe Patron.

Media advisory: press conference, 11 September: flagship WHO European health report launch 28-08-2018

The launch of the World Health Organization’s European Health Report, a flagship report published every 3 years, which tracks the significant trends in public health and adverse social behaviours that are inhibiting health and well-being across the WHO European Region, comprising 53 countries, reaching from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

Annual meeting of ministers to set health priorities in Europe 14-08-2018

On 17 September 2018 in Rome, Italy, health ministers and high-level representatives of the 53 Member States of the WHO European Region will gather for the annual WHO Regional Committee for Europe. At this year’s 68th session, participants will consider topics including a new strategy on men’s health, financial protection and an action plan to improve public health preparedness and response.

How to ensure access to essential medicines for all? New WHO report reviews medicines reimbursement policies in Europe 18-07-2018

The new WHO report “Medicines reimbursement policies in Europe” examines the various policies that increase access to affordable medicines. Based on direct data collection from 45 of the 53 countries in the WHO European Region, it showcases diverse national practices and aims to identify key aspects of policy frameworks that protect vulnerable groups from unaffordable out-of-pocket payments for medicines.

Portugal on fast track to achieve HIV targets ahead of 2020 deadline 11-07-2018

Portuguese Minister of Health Dr Adalberto Campos Fernandes announced on 5 July 2018 that Portugal has achieved 2 of the 3 HIV targets set by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), known as the 90–90–90 targets. This puts the country on track to reach all 3 targets ahead of the 2020 deadline.

Making the link between transport, health, environment and achieving the SDGs 11-07-2018

Everyone has a role to play in implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and reaching the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including governments, intergovernmental organizations, civil society, the private sector and people everywhere.

Climate change increasingly affects small countries 25-06-2018

Climate change challenges many countries in the world and is increasingly affecting small countries.  Ministers and other high-level public health officials from the 8 countries that make up the Small Countries Initiative will gather in Reykjavik on 26–27 June to find solutions that can protect their people’s health from this and other threats. Enhanced efforts will contribute to reaching the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This is the 5th annual meeting of the Initiative since it was launched in 2013.

Investment and innovation for inclusive health systems key to nations’ prosperity 18-06-2018

“Investment in health is an investment in future human development, and well functioning health systems are so essential to improve societies’ health in general.” President Kersti Kaljulaid of Estonia delivered this message in a speech at the opening of the high-level meeting Health Systems for Prosperity and Solidarity: leaving no one behind, which took place in Tallinn, Estonia, on 13–14 June 2018.

Seventy-first World Health Assembly comes to a close after charting a new course for WHO 29-05-2018

The Seventy-first World Health Assembly took place on 21–26 May 2018 in Geneva, Switzerland. Over the course of the 6 days, delegates charted a new course for the Organization.

Delegates at World Health Assembly agree on new 5-year strategic plan 25-05-2018

World Health Assembly delegates have agreed on an ambitious new strategic plan for the next 5 years. The WHO’s 13th General Programme of Work (GPW) is designed to help the world achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – with a particular focus on SDG3: ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages by 2030.

World Health Day 2018 in the WHO European Region – making health about the people, for the people 09-05-2018

On World Health Day 2018, WHO called on all countries to make universal health coverage (UHC) a political priority, using available evidence and tools to determine their own path to health for all. This year’s World Health Day also marked the 70th anniversary of WHO, and the start of a 2-year campaign to raise awareness and advocate for action towards UHC.

On World Health Day, recommit to health for all 05-04-2018

Four personal stories from the WHO European Region illustrate how countries are making progress in different ways towards universal health coverage. On World Health Day, WHO calls on leaders in the Region to recommit to health for all through concerted action for universal health coverage.