News

Spotlight on people who risk losing their sight 14-04-2021

WHO Europe highlights the lack of effective eye screening for people with diabetes - The aims are simple: to reduce the risk of diabetes and ensure that all people who are diagnosed have access to equitable, comprehensive, affordable and quality management of their condition. Much work remains to be done. Insulin was discovered 100 years ago, yet far too many people still are unable to access this essential, life-saving medicine.

Less salt for a longer life – a doctor’s advice for a healthy diet 09-03-2021

Eating less salt saves lives, but many people in the WHO European Region find it difficult to change their diets. On the occasion of Salt Awareness Week 2021, WHO/Europe shares the experience of Dr Joana Ferreira, who is helping her patients in Portugal find healthier alternatives for processed or traditional foods to reduce their salt intake.

New data reveals significant gaps in influenza immunization of those who need it most in Europe 15-12-2020

WHO set a target in 2003 that 75% of elderly people should be vaccinated against influenza each year. The most recent data (2018/2019), published this week on the European Health Information Gateway, reveals that only 1 country out of 28 reporting coverage in the WHO European Region achieved that target – Belarus. More than 60% coverage was achieved by only 4 countries – Ireland, Portugal, Russian Federation and the United Kingdom.

Coming together to identify health-workforce needs in small countries 18-11-2020

The WHO Small Countries Initiative has released 2 sets of micro case studies, illustrating the experiences of 11 small countries and 1 region in strengthening their health workforces in the areas of postgraduate training and monitoring and managing health workforce mobility.

WHO addresses European Parliament on COVID-19 response 01-07-2020

On 25 June, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and WHO Regional Director for Europe Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge spoke to the European Parliament Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) about the global response to COVID-19. They highlighted the leadership of the European Union (EU) at this unprecedented time and responded to questions from Members of the European Parliament.

WHO report on health behaviours of 11–15-year-olds in Europe reveals more adolescents are reporting mental health concerns 19-05-2020

In around a third of countries, the report reveals a rise in adolescents feeling pressured by schoolwork and a decline in young people reporting to like school. The report also discloses that over 1 in 10 adolescents report having been cyberbullied at least once in the past two months.

Moving towards a multisectoral approach to tackling antimicrobial resistance 19-03-2020

A new publication produced by WHO’s European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies and published by Cambridge University Press outlines the need for multisectoral approaches – involving disciplines such as human medicine, veterinary medicine, agricultural sciences, epidemiology, economics, sociology and psychology – to address the global problem of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The publication goes on to describe the potential economic and policy responses for tackling the challenge of AMR in the European Union.

Portugal brings down obesity by taxing sugary drinks 04-03-2020

On World Obesity Day, 4 March, we highlight the success Portugal has had in tackling childhood obesity – one of the main health challenges in the WHO European Region – with their sugary drinks tax.

Standing up for health for all 06-02-2020

Dr Hans Kluge, the new WHO Regional Director for Europe, opened a country briefing yesterday to showcase collaboration between the Ministry of Health of Lithuania and the WHO Country Office in Lithuania. The briefing took place during WHO’s Executive Board meeting in Geneva, Switzerland. WHO/Europe has provided such briefings at several recent governance meetings in order to increase Member States’ understanding of WHO’s work and impact at the country level.

Four countries pilot a joint, multisectoral response to tuberculosis (TB), HIV and viral hepatitis 19-11-2019

Following the launch in 2018 of the United Nations Common Position on Ending HIV, TB and Viral Hepatitis through Intersectoral Collaboration, Belarus, Georgia, Portugal and Tajikistan agreed to lead the way on adopting an intersectoral approach in their response to the 3 diseases.

Member States to reflect on 10 years of progress in public health and set health priorities for Europe at RC69 15-07-2019

On 16–19 September 2019, 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 69th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe (RC69).

World Cancer Day: action for protection against cervical cancer 29-01-2019

Cervical cancer is among the most common types of cancer affecting women in the WHO European Region, with 69 000 new cases and 30 000 deaths estimated for 2018 alone. Yet unlike most other types of cancer, it is vaccine-preventable.

Portuguese Health Literacy Action Plan helps people to help themselves 18-01-2019

In a bid to improve the ability of individuals to access, understand and use correct information to maintain good health, Portugal has initiated a Health Literacy Action Plan, which encourages the active participation of its citizens in health-care decisions.

Illustrating successes and challenges in tackling childhood obesity at the United Nations General Assembly 18-10-2018

At the sidelines of the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly, WHO and Portugal held an event on the WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI) that explored how better data could drive better policies.

Implementing the Action plan for sexual and reproductive health – how policies can make a real difference 10-09-2018

When national and regional experts in sexual and reproductive health from 21 countries met in Stockholm, Sweden, on 30–31 August 2018, a success story from Portugal illustrated how policy changes in this area can make a huge difference.

Improved access to health services to eliminate hepatitis C in Portuguese prisons 02-08-2018

Portugal has introduced a new model of care for prison inmates, relocating health professionals from hospitals to the prisons themselves in order to provide critical on-site health care to viral hepatitis and HIV patients, and allowing access to care for inmates who were previously unable to visit hospitals due to complex security procedures.

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.

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.

Day 2 of high-level meeting Health Systems Respond to NCDs: Learning from good examples and real-time problem solving in policy labs 18-04-2018

Day 2 of the high-level meeting Health Systems Respond to NCDs kicked off with participants diving directly into policy workshops covering 4 key topics: financing and incentive alignment, health workforce, governance and financing of intersectoral action, and medicines.

Recognition award for head of WHO European NCD Office 17-04-2018

On 7th April 2018, during the celebration of World Health Day, Dr João Breda, Head of the WHO European Office for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases (NCD Office) and Programme Manager for Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity at WHO/Europe, was awarded a gold medal by the Portuguese Ministry of Health for outstanding services in the field of health promotion. The award ceremony took place at the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation in Lisbon.

WHO international meeting on prisons and health: recognizing the role of prisons in addressing health inequalities 27-03-2018

Following the WHO international meeting on prisons and health, and in collaboration with the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, Public Health England and the United Kingdom Collaborating Centre for the WHO Health in Prisons Programme (HIPP), WHO released key conclusions and a call to action to recognize prisons as important settings in which to address health inequalities. The conclusions also set out priorities for reducing drug use and its associated harms in prison.

Downward trend in overweight and obesity among Portuguese school children 26-02-2018

Portugal recently published a report on their 4th round of data collection as part of the WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI), finding evidence of a downward trend in overweight and obesity between 2008 and 2016.

“Health in all policies” approach to improve nutrition in Portugal 17-01-2018

The Portuguese government has taken commendable steps to improve nutrition and prevent obesity with the launch of its new Integrated Strategy for the Promotion of Healthy Eating (EIPAS) on 29 December 2017. The Strategy contains a suite of measures agreed by an interministerial working group comprising the ministries of finance, internal affairs, education, health, economy, agriculture, forestry and rural development, and the sea.

WHO assessment identifies key areas of action for adults with mental disabilities living in institutions 27-12-2017

An intercountry meeting co-organized by WHO/Europe and the Lisbon Institute of Global Mental Health identified key areas of action in the fields of mental health and human rights. The event, held in Lisbon, Portugal, on 20–21 November 2017, brought together government representatives and national experts from 14 participating countries as well as WHO experts and partners from the Picker Institute Europe. It presented the opportunity to share experience, assess progress and plan future collaboration.

Moldovan delegates learn from the Portuguese primary health care model 05-12-2017

As part of the current transformation of the primary health care sector and the development of a new health-care strategy in the Republic of Moldova, a group of the country’s decision-makers and health professionals visited Portugal to learn from their experience.

Global leaders meet to address childhood obesity epidemic 31-08-2017

Obesity is preventable. Eradicating obesity, however, is very complex. The prevalence of childhood obesity in nearly every country around the globe is increasing at an unprecedented rate, and yet few countries have pushed this public health issue to the top of the political agenda.

WHO/Europe and GOARN deliver state-of-the-art training to strengthen emergency response 21-07-2017

The Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN), in collaboration with WHO/Europe, conducted an extensive training of 24 public health experts from 22 countries to improve rapid and effective field response to outbreaks and health emergencies.

Public health advice as heatwave continues across southern and central Europe 13-07-2017

Excessively high temperatures are expected to continue in parts of central Europe, Balkan countries, Italy, Portugal and southern Spain. Such heat leads to increased concerns for the health and well-being of vulnerable groups such small children, the elderly and those who have chronic medical conditions.

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.

Nursing in a remote island setting 09-05-2017

Eunice M.C. de Lima works on Flores Island in the Azores archipelago, 120 miles from the nearest hospital. In an interview with WHO/Europe, she shares her experience of nursing in this remote island setting.

Setting research priorities in environment and health 04-05-2017

“More research might not be needed” in environment and health in some cases, and “we should stop polishing the same stone ad nauseam, and move to different stones”. These are observations from a meeting organized by the WHO European Centre for Environment and Health, Bonn, Germany , in collaboration with a Portuguese team from the Ministry of Health, the National Health Institute and the Medical School of the University of Lisbon. Hosted by the Municipality of Cascais in Portugal, the meeting was attended by 24 international experts and 10 observers, who gathered for two days on 27–28 April to discuss how to establish priorities in environment and health research.

The health system in Portugal: the challenge of health inequalities and financial sustainability 25-04-2017

A new HiT review reports on the state of the Portuguese health system.

RHN annual meeting 2016: reaching the Global Goals and leaving no one behind 29-09-2016

On 22–23 September 2016, Lithuania hosted the 23rd annual meeting of the Regions for Health Network (RHN) at Raudondvaris Castle in Kaunas region. The meeting focused on how regions can implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Developmen with its central role of health in leaving no one behind.

Greece and Portugal exchange experience and good practices in health technology assessment (HTA) 20-07-2016

Under the strengthening capacity for universal coverage (SCUC) initiative, WHO/Europe organized a study visit to Portugal for Greek policy-makers on 6–8 July 2016, to provide an overview of the functioning of a well established HTA agency in a European country of comparable size and with similar economic, social and cultural conditions.

Annual Health in Prison Steering Group Meeting 2016 28-06-2016

The WHO/Europe Health in Prisons Programme Steering Group met in March 2016 in Lisbon, Portugal to introduce new group members and to set the agenda for 2016–2017.

The Greek Government launches a broad policy dialogue on primary health care reform 24-05-2016

The Ministry of Health of Greece together with WHO/Europe organized a policy dialogue on primary health care reform that took place on 9–10 May 2016 in Athens, under the "Strengthening capacity for universal coverage" (SCUC) initiative.

Positive feedback on the health financing course on universal health coverage 13-05-2016

The sixth WHO Barcelona Course on Health Financing took place on 14–18 March 2016 in Barcelona, Spain. Built on the theme of universal health coverage, the course reviewed ways to improve health systems' performance through better policy on health financing.

WHO/Europe facilitates exchange of experience between Greece and Portugal on primary health care reforms 12-05-2016

Under the "Strengthening capacity for universal coverage" (SCUC) initiative, WHO/Europe's Division of Health Systems and Public Health organized a study visit to Portugal for Greek policy-makers on 11–15 April 2016.

Despite progress, no European country on track to meet salt reduction goal 02-05-2016

Food and health experts from across Europe met in Lisbon, Portugal on 20–22 April 2016 to discuss strategies to reduce the harmful levels of salt in food.

European action networks on salt and on reducing marketing pressure on children meet in Lisbon, Portugal 20-04-2016

The Directorate-General of Health of Portugal is the host of back-to-back meetings of the European Salt Action Network and the European Action Network for Reducing Marketing Pressure on Children in Lisbon on 20–22 April 2016.

European Health Information Initiative expands by 7 members at 4th Steering Group Meeting 12-04-2016

Georgia, Lithuania, Malta and Portugal are the latest Member States to be welcomed to the European Health Information Initiative (EHII) alongside new institutional members Public Health England, the European Public Health Association, and the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, which is a WHO collaborating centre.

WHO expert meeting gathers tailored policy advice from past health ministers on large-scale health system reforms 01-02-2016

In a pioneering effort to harvest actionable insights and expertise for large-scale health system transformation, WHO/Europe, the Deusto Business School of Spain and the Centre for Public Policy and Health of Durham University jointly gathered over 25 high-level past policy- and decision-makers in health systems in Madrid, Spain on 17–18 December 2015.

Experts meet in Lisbon to assess evidence and review progress on nutrition labelling 16-12-2015

Nutrition labelling can guide consumer food selection and nudge individuals towards healthier choices. In particular, front-of-pack labelling may also stimulate industry to pursue favorable compositional changes to the food supply, notably through food reformulation.

Latvia one of the first countries in the European Region to ratify the protocol on illicit trade 30-11-2015

The Latvian Parliament ratified the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products on 12 November 2015, and the Latvian President announced the new law.

West Nile virus confirmed in Portugal for first time 18-09-2015

On 14 September 2015, the first confirmed case of West Nile virus (WNV) in Portugal was notified to WHO/Europe. Even though the presence of WNV is known in Portugal, where three previous probable cases were reported (two in 2004 and one in 2010), this is the first laboratory-confirmed case that fully meets the European Union case definition for WNV.

What to do in heatwaves: public health advice 02-07-2015

As the European Region enters the warm season, the public, medical professionals and public health authorities must prepare for eventual heat-waves and hot spells.

Stepping up action on migrant and refugee health 18-06-2015

Since June 2013, with the generous support of the Government of Italy, the WHO Regional Office for Europe has conducted many assessment missions and piloted a toolkit with ministries of health to assess how their health systems could manage large influxes of migrants. 20 June is World Refugee Day.

From the migration front line: interview with Lampedusa doctor 27-04-2015

"You have to believe me, we are making miracles here," said Dr Pietro Bartolo, head of health services on Lampedusa, about the work of health care staff and coastguard personnel on the small Italian island, in a recent interview with WHO/Europe.

Greece and Portugal exchange know-how on the organization of primary health care services 17-01-2015

A study visit to Portugal for policy-makers from Greece was organized by the WHO Programme Management Team in Athens on 1-5 December 2014. The main objective was to exchange experience on the organization of PHC services and their contracting with pay-for-performance components in the context of starting up family health units under the implementation of the PHC Law in Greece. 

Legionnaires' disease outbreak in Portugal 17-11-2014

As of 13 November 2014 (17:00), the Directorate-General for Health of Portugal has reported a total of 311 cases of Legionnaires' disease, all of which have epidemiological links to Vila Franca de Xira, a suburban area of Lisbon. So far, seven deaths have been confirmed to be caused by the disease.

Country cooperation strategy signed with Portugal 17-09-2014

The Ministry of Health of Portugal and WHO have signed a country cooperation strategy (CCS), setting the vision for creating synergy and alignment between WHO leadership priorities and Portuguese national health policies, strategies and plans for 2015–2020. The CCS is aligned with both Portugal’s national health plan and the WHO European policy framework Health 2020. 

Highlights of day 1 – Focus on more equitable, sustainable health for Europe 15-09-2014

“Our aim will be better health for Europe, more equitable and sustainable,” said Zsuzsanna Jakab, WHO Regional Director for Europe, in her address to representatives of all 53 Member States in the WHO European Region.

Portugal develops country cooperation strategy 09-07-2014

Zsuzsanna Jakab, WHO Regional Director for Europe, visited Portugal on 27 June 2014 to take part in the National Health Forum meeting held in Lisbon. 

WHO collaborates on Portugal's National Health Plan 2012-2016 03-06-2014

On 9 May 2014, WHO/Europe teams from the programmes of Public health services, Health system governance and Health systems policy, in collaboration with the Directorate General for Public Health of Portugal, organized a policy dialogue on the implementation of the Portuguese National Health Plan (NHP) 2012-2016.

WHO supports Portugal in monitoring the impact of the crisis 27-03-2014

WHO to support the Portuguese Ministry of Health in monitoring the impact of the crisis on financial risk protection and timely access to health services

Assessing the public health capacity for migration in Portugal 21-11-2013

WHO/Europe, through its project on Public Health Aspects of Migration in Europe (PHAME) of the European Office for Investment for Health and Development, is assessing the public health response of Mediterranean countries that may potentially receive a large influx of migrants.

World Health Assembly, day 2: General Programme of Work for next 6 years approved 23-05-2013

The World Health Assembly approved a resolution on the General Programme of Work and changes to the financial regulations and rules on 21 May 2013.

Post-2015 development agenda in focus on first day of World Health Assembly 21-05-2013

The Sixty-fifth World Health Assembly, WHO’s annual global meeting of ministers and senior health officials, opened on 20 May. It will discuss a draft global action plan for noncommunicable diseases, as well as action plans on mental health and the prevention of avoidable blindness and visual impairment. 

Dengue fever in Madeira, Portugal 17-10-2012

A dengue outbreak has been reported in Portugal, with 18 confirmed cases and 191 probable cases as of 10 October 2012.

Release of Case studies on health system performance assessment, A long-standing development in Europe 14-08-2012

Health system performance assessment (HSPA) is a country-specific process of evaluating and communicating the achievement of high-level health system goals.

New publication: integration of HIV, TB and harm reduction services in Portugal 01-06-2012

WHO/Europe has produced a new publication called "A rapid assessment of the accessibility and integration of HIV, TB and harm reduction services for people who inject drugs in Portugal".

World Health Assembly, day 2: resolution on noncommunicable diseases approved 24-05-2012

A resolution on strengthening noncommunicable disease policies to promote active ageing was approved by countries on the second day of WHO’s global annual meeting.

Day 2 of World Health Assembly: International Health Regulations and WHO reform in focus 18-05-2011

Countries agreed that the International Health Regulations have been valuable and effective so far, and many pledged strong support for the Director-General’s proposal to reform WHO, at the World Health Assembly yesterday.