Today, 1 October 2025, the European Health Forum Gastein (EHFG) is offering a unique stage for dialogue on one of Europe’s most pressing challenges: non-communicable diseases (NCDs). As part of this year’s programme, the Prevent NCD Walk, organised by the Austrian National Public Health Institute (Gesundheit Österreich GmbH) in partnership with JA PreventNCD, is inviting participants to step outside the traditional conference setting and into the fresh mountain air of Bad Hofgastein.
The walk combines movement with meaningful conversation. Against the backdrop of the Gasteiner Ache and the Kurpark, health leaders, policymakers, researchers, youth representatives, and civil society are exchanging insights on how to reduce the burden of NCDs in Europe. This format is more than symbolic: it embodies the message that health is shaped by the choices we make and the environments in which we live.
Why NCD prevention matters
NCDs such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic respiratory disease, and diabetes account for nearly 80% of Europe’s health burden. Yet, evidence shows that up to 70% is preventable through effective public health measures and early interventions. Without urgent and coordinated action, the human and economic costs of NCDs will continue to rise as Europe’s population ages.
The Prevent NCD Walk highlights both the urgency of the challenge and the wealth of opportunities to act. Speakers emphasise that more ambitious targets are needed at European, national, and local levels, with a stronger focus on policies that empower entire populations to live healthier lives.
The power of collaboration
A central message of the walk is the value of acting together. Through EU Joint Actions such as JA PreventNCD, countries can pool expertise, share proven strategies, and scale up innovative approaches to prevention. By reducing fragmentation and duplication, Joint Actions enable a more coherent European policy framework and ensure that equity and health inequalities are kept at the heart of the response.
This spirit of collaboration goes beyond government institutions. By engaging civil society, academia, youth organisations, and communities, initiatives like JA PreventNCD ensure that diverse voices are heard and that policies are both effective and fair.
Regulation and responsibility
Discussions also explore the role of regulation as a prevention strategy. While the food industry in Europe is largely self-regulated, the reality is that much of its marketing — especially to children and adolescents — promotes products that are not aligned with dietary guidelines.
Participants point to successful examples of regulation, such as the UK Soft Drinks Industry Levy, which has contributed to reduced sugar consumption. Such measures demonstrate that policy tools can shift industry behaviour and improve public health, even if trade-offs must be carefully balanced.
Leading by example through public procurement
Another promising approach showcased during the walk is the use of public procurement as a driver of healthier and more sustainable food systems.
In Copenhagen, for instance, procurement policies have transformed more than 115,000 daily meals across 1,000+ kitchens, integrating organic produce, seasonal foods, and reduced meat consumption — all without additional costs.
At the European level, the Public Food Procurement Officers’ Network, initiated under the Joint Action Best-ReMaP and now carried forward by JA PreventNCD, is helping 17 countries share legal and practical expertise to make healthier choices the easy default in schools, hospitals, and other public institutions.
Key voices on the walk
The Prevent NCD Walk features contributions from leading voices in the field, including:
- Herwig Ostermann, Executive Director, Austrian National Public Health Institute
- Knut-Inge Klepp, Scientific Coordinator, JA PreventNCD
- Hanna Tolonen, Director of Research, Development and Innovation, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki
- Sanja Šišović, President, International Youth Health Organization
- Johannes Pleiner-Duxneuner, Managing Director, Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety
- Betina Bergman Madsen, Head of Procurement and Team Leader, Municipality of Copenhagen
The session is moderated by Gabriele Gruber, Senior Health Expert at the Austrian National Public Health Institute, and concludes with reflections from a representative of the Austrian Ministry of Health and a youth delegate from the JA PreventNCD Youth Advisory Group.
A step toward change
The Prevent NCD Walk is drawing to a close with these reflections, reinforcing the sense that while the challenge is daunting, the momentum for action is growing. By bringing people together outside the conference halls, the session highlights the importance of dialogue, innovation, and shared responsibility in tackling the leading causes of premature death and disability in Europe.
The Austrian National Public Health Institute and JA PreventNCD are proud to lead this session together and grateful to all who joined the walk. The discussions will continue well beyond Gastein — and the steps taken here today symbolise the many steps still needed across Europe to prevent NCDs and create healthier, more equitable societies.
Together, we can turn knowledge into action and ensure that prevention becomes a cornerstone of European public health.