Together for Europe’s Health – strategic orientations and actions for public health

Poland assumed the presidency of the Council of the European Union on January 1, 2025, marking the start of a crucial six-month period where it will play a leading role in shaping the EU agenda. As part of its presidency, the Ministry of Health of Poland hosted the conference Together for Europe’s Health – strategic orientations and actions for public health, on January 16 in Warsaw. The conference provided an opportunity to explore innovative solutions, share best practices, foster international collaboration in healthcare, and discuss key challenges and opportunities in promoting health, preventing diseases, addressing the mental health needs of children and young people, and advancing the digital transformation of healthcare systems. This aligns closely with the objectives of JA PreventNCD, which supports EU Member States in strengthening policies to prevent non-communicable diseases (NCDs) through evidence-based approaches.

The conference addressed pressing public health challenges, including the effective implementation of social policies, the mental health needs of children and young people, and the digital transformation of healthcare systems. A highlight of the event was the keynote speech by Dr. Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, who underscored the urgent and costly burden of NCDs. He noted that these diseases account for 90% of deaths and 85% of years lived with disability in Europe. Dr. Kluge outlined a five-step agenda for action:

1. Elevating health on the political agenda,
2. Build economic skills as part of public health action,
3. Reinforce the foundation of public health and primary health care systems,
4. Power public health with data and AI solutions and excellence,
5. Building and sustaining trust in an age of mis- and dis-information.

The conference was highly relevant for JA PreventNCD, which was proudly represented by key members of the project: Mojca Gabrijelčič (Slovenia), Hanna Tolonen (Finland), and Knut-Inge Klepp (Norway).

• Mojca Gabrijelčič from the National Institute of Public Health, Slovenia, spoke at the session Health Promotion and Disease Prevention through Interdisciplinary and Multimodal Education for Children and Youth – Good Practices and Ideas for the Future. Her presentation, titled "Multi-level, multi-sectoral, multi-challenging health and wellbeing: Generations of tomorrow – where next?", emphasized the distinction between health promotion and disease prevention and highlighted successful multi-sectoral policies in Slovenia, such as SLOfit, ZDAJ.si, the Slovene Healthy Schools Network, and the School Scheme. She stressed the need for stronger regulations, including restrictions on marketing unhealthy foods to children, as well as policies that prioritize well-being, health promotion, and equity in digital spaces where children are active.
• Hanna Tolonen from the Finnish Institute of Health and Welfare, Finland, presented in the session Productivity of Public Health Programs – Making Effective Decisions in the Implementation of Social Policies. Her presentation, titled "Leveraging Health Monitoring Data for Evidence-Based Policy", highlighted Finland’s well-established national health monitoring system, which provides crucial data for policymakers, particularly in areas such as smoking and obesity prevention. She emphasized the necessity of high-quality, representative, and timely health data for identifying risks, tracking policy impact, and addressing health inequalities.
• Knut-Inge Klepp from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Norway, delivered a presentation titled "Scaling up evidence-based policies to reduce the NCD burden: Restricting advertising of harmful products". He showcased JA PreventNCD's role in helping Member States implement such policies, with a focus on restricting advertising of harmful products such as tobacco, alcohol, and unhealthy food and drinks. He pointed out the extensive experience European countries have in regulating marketing, the new challenges posed by digital marketing, and how JA PreventNCD serves as a collaborative platform for strengthening legislation at both national and EU levels.

With increasing pressures on health budgets due to aging populations and the rising prevalence of NCDs, EU countries face major challenges in sustaining their healthcare systems. Although cost-effective interventions—often referred to as "best buys" for NCD prevention—exist, implementation across the EU remains sub-optimal, with only a 50% adoption rate on average. This gap results in preventable deaths, with NCDs accounting for nearly 70% of preventable mortality in the region.

The session on Productivity of Public Health Programs provided insights into successful implementation strategies and policy evaluation in various Member States. Discussions focused on leveraging national data for evidence-based policymaking and ensuring effective investment in public health programs.

By hosting this conference, Poland reaffirmed its commitment to public health as a key priority during its EU25 presidency. The event brought together representatives from Ministries of Health across Member States, the European Commission, the European Parliament, WHO, OECD, EuroHealthNet, and other key stakeholders. It provided a valuable networking opportunity for JA PreventNCD representatives, allowing them to engage in discussions on emerging public health priorities and identify areas for further collaboration.

Poland's presidency underscores the importance of strengthening EU-wide efforts in disease prevention and health promotion. The alignment between JA PreventNCD and Poland’s health agenda demonstrates the critical role of collaborative action in addressing Europe's public health challenges and advancing sustainable, evidence-based policies.