public health

Jan

2026

UNESCO Chair endorses the Helsinki statement on Investing in Health and Well-being

The Helsinki Statement on Investing in Health and Well-being is one of the outcomes of the 18^th European Public Health Conference. Urging bold investment in health systems, embedding equity, using “Health in All Policies”, protecting public health from misinformation, and measuring well-being beyond GDP, seeing health as an investment for sustainable societies, not a cost, linking human health with planetary and social sustainability, and promoting an “economy of well-being”.

The Helsinki Statement on Investing in Health and Well-being, remains open for endorsement. Organizations across Europe can still sign and add their voice. EUPHA will build on it throughout 2026, especially during European Public Health Week (4–9 May 2026), when they will work with partners to bring the statement to life in countries and communities.

EPH Conference Helsinki 2025 Joint Statement

Apr

2025

Protect European Health: Sign the petition to save EU4Health civil society grants

Civil society is the backbone of public health in Europe. But without urgent action, key health organisations face a funding crisis.

EUPHA and partners are calling on the European Commission to adopt the 2025 EU4Health Work Plan – ensuring full-year operational funding for civil society organisations (CSOs) under the Framework Partnership Agreement.

Without it, we risk losing decades of progress in public health, science, and equity across Europe.

Sign the petition

Join those who have already spoken out. Sign now and help protect the future of health advocacy in Europe.

Sign the petition here

Why your voice matters

Health CSOs provide vital expertise, watchdog functions, and community engagement that governments alone cannot deliver.
Delays or cuts to EU4Health funding put:

Public health professionals and their work at risk
Science and knowledge exchange in jeopardy
Health equity and community outreach in danger

Your signature shows EU leaders that public health matters.

How you can support

Sign and share the petition
Share it with your network, colleagues, and partners.

Use the hashtag #StandUpForPublicHealth
Raise awareness and show your support on social media platforms.

Add your voice to our campaign
Use the graphics and slides from the EUPHA website to spread the word in meetings, emails, and events.

Dec

2024

UNESCO Chair at the 17th EPH Conference

The UNESCO Chair team took part in the 17^th European Public Health Conference which was held 12-15 November 2024 in Lisbon, Portugal. There is clearly a more prominent place for health promotion and reducing health inequalities in public health.

Tackling health inequalities in times of crisis – the educational perspective

During the EPH Conference one of the plenary sessions was on “Tackling health inequalities in times of crisis”, organised by EuroHealthNet. According to key-note speaker Fran Baum: ‘we are living in a world facing a poly-crisis that is threatening health equity. We face a multitude of challenges which significantly impact individuals’ health and well-being and create the conditions for persisting health inequalities’.

Tackling health inequalities in times of crisis requires action across societal sectors and levels. As a panelist Didier Jourdan, chairholder of the UNESCO Chair on Global Health & Education, gave a reflection from the educational perspective. He shared 4 ideas:

1) Education has a close-response relationship with all-cause morbidity;
2) Education systems are key actors in public health, not mere instruments;
3) A school that promotes health is first of all a good, inclusive and equitable school;
4) To fight inequalities we need to harness the power of formal, non-formal and informal education.

Recordings of all plenary sessions are available on EPH Conference’s YouTube channel.

Pre-conference on the effectiveness of complex health promotion interventions

On 12 November one of the pre-conferences was on “Establishing the effectiveness of complex health promotion interventions: Shining light on alternatives”. It was organised by the EUPHA Health Promotion section, in collaboration with the UNESCO Chair on Global Health & Education.

During the pre-conference, the challenges facing health promotion practitioners and researchers in establishing the effectiveness of their programmes and policies was discussed. Also alternatives to the traditional epistemological and methodological perspectives were explored. The statement of the pre-conference will be available early 2025. The presentations can be downloaded from the dedicated webpage.

Portuguese launch event of the UNESCO Chair Global Health & Education

The Portuguese launch event of the UNESCO Chair on Global Health & Education took place on 12 November 2024 during the 17^th European Public Health Conference in Lisbon, Portugal. It was organised in collaboration with the Research Centre on Child Studies (CIEC), Institute of Education, University of Minho.

During the meeting the UNESCO Chair Global Health & Education was introduced and the collaborative research with University of Minho, Portugal, São Paulo State University, Brazil and Rovuma University, Mozambique on the safe re-opening of schools during COVID-19 was highlighted. The presentations can be downloaded from the dedicated webpage.

Partnership agreement UNESCO Chair and EUPHA

During the launch event the new partnership agreement between the UNESCO Chair and EUPHA was signed.

Mar

2024

European Public Health Conference – submit your abstract

The 17^th EPH Conference will be held in Lisbon, Portugal, from 12 – 15 November 2024. Theme of the EPH conference 2024 is: Sailing the waves of European public health: exploring a sea of innovation. The main conference is from 13 – 15 November. Pre-conferences will be held on 11 and 12 November.

This year’s conference theme, Sailing the waves of European public health: exploring a sea of innovation, encapsulates our collective mission. Just as explorers once set sail to discover new worlds, we, as public health professionals, embark on a journey of innovation and discovery in our field. We seek to push the boundaries, discover new approaches, and chart the course for the future of public health in Europe.

Subthemes of the EPH Conference 2024

Artificial Intelligence in Public Health
One Health – Animal Approach
Social Marketing in Public Health
Health Inequalities
Global Health

Abstract submission is open

Abstract submission for the 17^th EPH Conference 2024 is open from 1 February until 1 May 2024, 18:00 CET. Abstracts are invited for workshops, oral presentations, pitch presentations and ePosters. All sessions will be 60 minutes. Do not miss the opportunity to be recognized for your hard work. Learn from each other and share your knowledge with others. More information here

Abstract Tutoring Programme

EPH Conference offers an Abstract Tutoring Programme providing an opportunity for young and/or less experienced abstract submitters to receive feedback from experienced reviewers. The programme is targeted at researchers who have limited access to colleagues to ask for guidance and comments on their proposed abstracts. More information here.

Registration

Registration for the 17^th EPH Conference opens 1 April 2024. Registration fees will be announced on our website.