News

COVID-19: The stakes are still high 01-07-2021

A 10-week decline in the number of COVID-19 cases in the 53 countries in the WHO European Region has come to an end.

WHO Regional Director sets focus on equity, drug security and health systems during Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum 14-06-2021

The need to ensure drug security and equitable access to vaccines while strengthening national health systems has been highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic. During a week-long visit to the Russian Federation for the Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), the WHO Regional Director for Europe, Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, stressed the importance of health equity and international collaboration.

COVID-19: Learning from experience 10-06-2021

With increasing social gatherings, greater population mobility, and large festivals and sports tournaments taking place in the coming days and weeks, WHO/Europe calls for caution.  COVID-19 notification rates across the Region show that widespread community transmission continues; the new Delta variant of concern, which shows increased transmissibility and some immune escape, is poised to take hold, while many among vulnerable populations above the age of 60 remain unprotected.

WHO/Europe and EuroHealthNet sign agreement to collaborate on addressing health inequalities and promoting sustainable development 09-06-2021

WHO/Europe and EuroHealthNet have signed a memorandum of understanding establishing a legal basis for collaboration on health promotion, health equity, investments for health, sustainable development, and prosperity for people and planet.

Regional Director takes European Programme of Work to countries during visits 04-06-2021

The WHO Regional Director for Europe, Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge recently visited a number of countries in the European Region, as COVID-19 vaccines continue to be rolled out, offering hope in the fight against the pandemic.

Ending this pandemic, preventing the next one: European perspectives at the Seventy-fourth World Health Assembly 03-06-2021

The Seventy-fourth World Health Assembly, held on 24–31 May 2021, was once again dominated by discussions on responding to the short- and longer-term consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, and on ensuring that countries, health systems, organizations and societies are better prepared to meet the challenges of future health threats.

15 years of partnership for health – ECDC and WHO/Europe agree on joint 2021 activities 21-05-2021

This year celebrates 15 years of successful cooperation between the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and WHO/Europe, at a time when COVID-19 continues to underscore the importance of establishing strong partnerships.

WHO/Europe’s governing board decides to hold virtual Regional Committee 20-05-2021

Members of the Standing Committee of the Regional Committee (SCRC) met on 18 May 2021 to agree on the agenda for the upcoming 71st session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe.

COVID-19: A fragile progress 20-05-2021

COVID-19 cases and deaths are declining. Weekly cases in Europe have gone down from a plateau of 1.7 million during mid-April to just close to 685 000 new cases last week. This is a 60% decrease in a month. This progress is fragile. We have been here before. Let us not make the same mistakes that were made this time last year, that resulted in a resurgence of COVID-19 and saw our health systems, communities and economies once again bear the full force of this pandemic.

More Europeans now vaccinated against COVID-19 than have had the virus 29-04-2021

Here in the European Region, it has been 462 days since the first COVID-19 cases were reported. Based on numbers of confirmed cases, 5.5% of the entire European population has now had COVID-19, while 7% has completed a full vaccination series.

For the common good: patients and health workers tell Regional Director of COVID-19 challenges and hopes for the future during country visit 28-04-2021

Health-care workers and patients were an important focus of WHO Regional Director for Europe Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge’s visit to Greece last week. During the second day of his visit, Dr Kluge spoke directly with health-care professionals and individuals at the accommodation site for refugees and migrants in Eleonas and the mega-vaccination centre Prometheus in Maroussi, northern Athens.

United action for stronger quality of care in the European Region – WHO supports Greece in building a national health system for the 21st century 27-04-2021

During his visit to Greece last week, WHO’s Regional Director for Europe, Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, opened a new centre of excellence in Athens focusing on quality of care and patient safety. Alongside the Minister of Health of Greece, Dr Vassilis Kikilias, the Regional Director spoke of the importance of this new office in working to strengthen quality of care in south-eastern and Mediterranean countries of the WHO European Region.

This week we celebrate the role of vaccines in bringing us closer 27-04-2021

European Immunization Week this year is like no other we have celebrated before. Today we are in the midst of an unprecedented COVID-19 vaccine rollout across the world that offers us optimism that “vaccines will bring us closer” again. This optimism is embedded in the knowledge that with high uptake of vaccines and adherence to public health measures we can beat this pandemic.

Getting closer together – one vaccination at a time 26-04-2021

The past year has been dominated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has brought tragedy, suffering and frustration to so many, and which will leave its mark on our society for many years to come. To help us put this pandemic behind us, we have our hopes firmly pinned on the new vaccines that have been developed in record time.

WHO, FAO, and OIE call for stronger coordination in mitigating health threats 23-04-2021

In a joint statement released today, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and WHO, committed to strengthening multisectoral coordination and efforts to combat health threats associated with interactions between humans, animals and the environment across Europe and central Asia.

New report from WHO on health spending calls on governments not to repeat past mistakes when rebuilding from COVID-19 22-04-2021

A new report from the WHO Barcelona Office for Health Systems Financing has highlighted the need for governments to maintain a higher level of public spending on health for the wider benefit of society despite expected budgetary pressures following the pandemic.

Health equity takes centre stage on WHO Regional Director’s visit to Romania 19-04-2021

Leaving no one behind in health has taken on a greater sense of urgency during the COVID-19 pandemic. On a country visit coinciding with World Health Day, the WHO Regional Director for Europe, Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, highlighted the importance of equity in health to decision-makers, while also meeting with patients and health-care workers delivering health care to people who find themselves in difficult circumstances.

Surging pandemic surpasses 1 million deaths in the WHO European Region 15-04-2021

Last week, we surpassed 1 million confirmed COVID-19 deaths in the WHO European Region. The situation in our region is serious; 1.6 million new cases are reported every week. That’s 9500 every hour, 160 people every minute. Once again, only vaccinating a chosen few, and excluding population segments, undermines our fight against the virus, everywhere.

Slow vaccine roll-out prolonging pandemic 01-04-2021

As variants of concern continue to spread and strain on hospitals grows, religious holidays are leading to increased mobility. Speeding up vaccination roll-out is crucial as new cases in the WHO European Region are increasing in every age group, apart from one.

Regional Director meets TB patients and policy-makers in Kyrgyzstan as COVID-19 continues to threaten health care across the Region 31-03-2021

Meeting Dilzada and Aiperi at Kyrgyzstan’s National Centre for Phthisiology offered Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, a rare opportunity during the pandemic to speak with patients directly.

Dr Kluge meets Ophelia, a TB patient from Azerbaijan 24-03-2021

In 2018, Ophelia, a 32-year-old mother of 2 who lives in Azerbaijan, realized something was very wrong. She was feeling exhausted and could barely get out of bed without assistance. “I had pain, my chest hurt, I was weak and I was sweating,” she explained. She went to the doctor and was diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB), joining the ranks of some 246 000 people with active TB in the WHO European Region today. Ophelia has extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB), which is the most severe form of TB. She was immediately invited to join a treatment programme and is now completing her 12th month of therapy, out of a 2-year regimen. Luckily, there are new TB medicines in Ophelia’s treatment regimen, she is responding well to therapy, and will most likely combat the disease.

WHO European Region: COVID-19 case incidence on the rise as deaths edge towards 1 million 18-03-2021

Last week marked 1 year since WHO announced that the Public Health Emergency of International Concern declared on 30 January 2020 represented the first ever pandemic caused by a coronavirus. Since then, we’ve seen nearly 42 million cases in this region alone, and more than 120 million globally. But we’ve also seen giant scientific leaps and the introduction of effective tools that give us power over the virus, when used. The power of the collective. The heroism of our frontline. When I look back at the past year, I see remarkable attributes we have all expressed to limit the spread of the coronavirus. Ultimately, our behaviour is saving lives.

International Women’s Day: the need to build back better, with women in the lead 04-03-2021

This is not only about rectifying long-standing gender inequalities. This is about women as health leaders and gendered responses to crises. This is about equality and women’s protection needs at the heart of every response. This is about righting wrongs – outside and inside of hospital walls – for a greater good.

WHO/Europe calls for action on post-COVID conditions/“long COVID” 25-02-2021

Today, we shed light on the fact that in some patients, the disability following SARS-CoV-2 infection lingers for months, with severe social, economic, health and occupational consequences.

Overcoming COVID-19 and its collateral effects 19-02-2021

Copenhagen, 18 February 2021, Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe:  What matters now, is how we respond to positive epidemiological trends.

Update on COVID-19: cautious optimism 11-02-2021

At this point, the overwhelming majority of European countries remain vulnerable. Right now, it’s a thin line between the hope of a vaccine and a false sense of security.

WHO/Europe looks ahead to a busy 2021 08-02-2021

Following an unprecedented year for WHO in 2020, WHO/Europe looks ahead to 2021 with a focus on the continuing COVID-19 pandemic alongside the implementation of the European Programme of Work.

At the forefront of curtailing the pandemic 05-02-2021

04 February 2021, Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, 142nd plenary session – European Committee of the Regions: I am very happy to be here today, at the European Committee of the Regions, to both sign an agreement to continue the productive partnership between our two organizations as well as to discuss COVID-19. In times like these, the unwavering support of the European Union and its institutions to the World Health Organization – building on the past, collaborating in the present, and planning for the future – is crucial.

Catastrophic impact of COVID-19 on cancer care 04-02-2021

Severe disruptions in services to cancer patients in the Region spur a pan-European initiative led by WHO as it announces a new ambassador, envisioning a future where cancer is no longer a life-threatening disease.

One year on: European Programme of Work forms vital part of COVID-19 response 03-02-2021

A year since being confirmed as WHO Regional Director for Europe, Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge has overseen the endorsement by Member States of the European Programme of Work, 2020–2025 – “United Action for Better Health in Europe” (EPW), which has already had an impact on WHO/Europe’s response to the pandemic.

WHO/Europe reports on unprecedented year at 148th Executive Board session 02-02-2021

Last week saw the conclusion of the 148th session of the WHO Executive Board, where members agree on the agenda and resolutions to be considered for the next World Health Assembly, to be held in May.

The pandemic paradox, hope and hardship in equal measure 28-01-2021

Vaccines, on the one hand, offer remarkable hope. On the other hand, newly emerging variants of concern are presenting greater uncertainty and risk. In the face of new, more transmissible variants of the virus, we will need to keep our guard up. This is the time we must draw on every reserve of patience and resilience to tolerate and adhere to the necessary measures that protect our health systems from collapsing under waves of a more transmissible virus.

Health system strengthening and COVID-19 response in focus during WHO/Europe Regional Director’s visit to Ukraine 20-01-2021

On December 13–16, WHO Regional Director for Europe Dr Hans Kluge paid his first official visit to Ukraine.

Universal health coverage high on the political agenda during the Regional Director’s visit to Georgia 18-01-2021

During a country visit to Georgia on 18–23 December 2020, Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, discussed priority areas for health with high-level representatives. The visit was also an opportunity to speak with health care workers on the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A tipping-point in the course of the pandemic 14-01-2021

We were prepared for a challenging start to 2021 and it has been just that. One year from WHO’s first news report about this virus, we have new tools at our disposal and considerably more knowledge, but we remain in the grip of COVID-19, as cases surge and we tackle new challenges brought by the mutating virus.

A challenging start to 2021, new COVID-19 variants and promising vaccine progress 07-01-2021

Be it vaccine allocation and prioritization, access to medical supplies and tests, or public health measures and policies to control the pandemic, we have a responsibility to base decisions on the core values that are at the heart of humanity: solidarity, equity and social justice. It is the only way out of these uncertain times, because no one is safe until everyone is safe.