Lunch symposium: Commerical determinants of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in the WHO European region: A call to action  

Wednesday 13 November, 12:55 – 13:55 (Lisbon time) 


Organised by:

WHO Regional Office for Europe, Special initiative on NCDs and Innovation 

Background

The recent publication on Commercial determinants of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) highlighted the immense impact of commercial determinants on health and well-being and proposed solutions highlighting a selected set of case studies from the Region. Nearly 7500 deaths per day in the Region are attributed to major commercial products such as alcohol, tobacco, processed food and beverages and fossil fuel and commercial practices.

As the fourth United Nations High-Level Meeting on NCDs approaches in 2025, the Region has a unique challenge in reaching its global NCD targets by 2025 and SDGs by 2030. The Region is not on track to achieve the SDG goal on reducing premature mortality due to NCDs, and there are considerable subregional and within country disparities of premature mortality from NCDs. One of the key barriers to accelerate the implementation of ‘Best Buy’ public health policies are the products and practices of Health harming industry.  

Public health professionals, civil society, academia and the youth have a responsibility to overcome this industry influence by building on the lessons of the past and evolving a new set of tools to address the commercial determinants of NCDs. The lunch time symposium aims to;

  1. Highlight key messages and case stories from the region to showcase the effect of commercial determinants.
  2. Explore opportunities to utilize the EUPHA members to disseminate the key findings across Europe.


Draft Programme

  1. Introduction of the topic and welcome
  2. Key messages from the publication and selected case stories.
  3. Discussion how EUPHA can support further dissemination of key messages of WHO report on Commercial Determinants of Noncommunicable Diseases in the WHO European Region
  4. Opportunity for the audience to indicate the top three priorities for them to take action against health harming industry influence.
  5. Panel discussion on barriers for implementation of Best Buy policies
  6. Q & A session

Registration

Registration is not required. Delegates who are registered for the main EPH Conference can attend free of charge. Get your lunch in the Exhibiton / Catering Area, walk in and join the session.