Plenary sessions Lisbon 2024

The main theme of the 17^th EPH Conference Lisbon 2024 is:

Sailing the waves of European public health: exploring a sea of innovation

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, which will be the focus of the plenary sessions in Lisbon:

Artificial Intelligence in Public Health

Lisbon, a city that bridges tradition and modernity, is the ideal setting to delve into the cutting-edge realm of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in public health. We’ll explore how AI is transforming disease surveillance, healthcare delivery, and decision-making, propelling us into an exciting era of health innovation.

One Health – Animal Approach

Lisbon’s deep maritime heritage resonates with the One Health concept, which recognizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health. Against the backdrop of our historic port, we’ll discuss how taking an animal-centric approach can strengthen public health strategies and mitigate emerging threats.

Social Marketing in Public Health

Lisbon’s vibrant street life and dynamic culture provide a unique backdrop to discuss the art of social marketing in public health. Join us in exploring innovative campaigns, digital strategies, and community engagement techniques to promote healthier behaviors.

Health Inequalities

The diverse neighborhoods of Lisboa, each with its own character and challenges, serve as a reminder of the widespread health inequalities in Europe that persist across the continent. There will be a discussion on innovative strategies that can be employed to reduce disparities and ensure equitable access to health care.

Global Health

Lisbon’s status as a global port city reminds us of the interconnectedness of our world in an increasingly globalized world. Together, we’ll discuss how European public health efforts can contribute to global health solutions, addressing issues that transcend borders.

This session is the official opening session of the conference and provides an introduction to the main theme.

Moderator

Ricardo Mexia, Chair of the 17th EPH Conference 2024

Speakers

• Sara Cerdas, Former Member of the European Parliament 2019-2024, Portugal
• Lorena Boix, Deputy Director-General, Directorate General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE), European Commission
• Ana Paula Martins, Minister of Health, Portugal

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not just a future promise but an urgent necessity for modern public health. By providing invaluable insights into disease patterns, therapeutic interventions, and overall public health management, AI has the potential to revolutionise healthcare. To tackle essential public health functions effectively, harnessing AI must become a top priority.

However, there is an urgent need for a cohesive strategy across Europe. Currently, varying readiness levels among European nations regarding AI adoption in health result in uneven progress across the continent. This disparity must be addressed to ensure all countries benefit equally from AI advancements.

Recognising this, WHO Regional Office for Europe launched a regional report on digital health in 2023. The report evaluated the integration of big data and advanced analytics, including AI, in health systems. Findings revealed that while 60% of Member States have a national data strategy, only 35% have a policy regulating big data and AI in health, and 38% lack both. This highlights a critical gap that must be filled urgently.

Our upcoming session will address these challenges head-on. Organised to provide visionary insights, practical applications, and a landscape view of artificial intelligence in public health, the presentations will be followed by a roundtable discussion in which panellists will delve into practical challenges surrounding AI adoption. They will reflect on the profound impact AI could have on the future of European health systems and offer pragmatic and responsible steps forward, culminating in achievable recommendations for public health professionals.

To enhance the session, we will utilise existing Generative AI tools to provide a real-time summary of the plenary and reinforce the call to action in alignment with panellists’ recommendations. This approach ensures that the session discusses the urgent need for AI in public health and actively demonstrates its practical applications.

Moderators

• Natasha Azzopardi Muscat, Director, Division of Country Health Policies and Systems, WHO Regional Office for Europe
• Dimitra Panteli, Programme Manager/Senior Health Systems Analyst, European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies

Facilitator

• Stefan Buttigieg, Manager of the National Contact Point for eHealth, Malta

Speakers/Panellists

• Martin McKee, Professor of European Public Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom
• Katharina Ladewig, Director, Centre for Artificial Intelligence in Public Health Research, Robert Koch Institute, Germany
• Lorena Boix, Deputy Director-General, Directorate General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE), European Commission
• Keyrellous Adib, Technical Officer Data Science and Digital Health, WHO Regional Office for Europe
• Francisco Goiana da Silva , Nova Medical School, University Nova of Lisbon, Portugal

Global health emphasizes the importance of addressing health challenges that transcend national borders and require strong international collaboration and governance. This concept is grounded in collaborative transnational actions aimed at promoting health for all, reducing disparities, and protecting against threats. Strengthening health systems, public health infrastructure, improving health service delivery, and ensuring equal access to healthcare for all are key focus areas in global health.

This plenary will address several major health challenges and critical issues, such as the rising burden of non-communicable diseases, re-emerging pandemics, environmental threats, and the suboptimal responses of national healthcare systems to manage these challenges. The need to focus on vulnerable and marginalized populations, particularly those affected by migration and ethnicity, will be highlighted. The discussion will also showcase the importance of including ethnic minority and Indigenous people’s perspectives in health policy and decision-making processes, as well as addressing the social determinants of health that disproportionately affect these communities.

Central to the discussion on global health is the role of global health policy and diplomacy, focusing on how countries can collaborate to address health threats and challenges, shaping international strategies and frameworks. Innovation, including reverse innovation and the development of evidence-informed policies and effective public health strategies that can be implemented globally and is relevant also in resource-constrained contexts, is another critical aspect in addressing the intersection of health and development. Finally, strong public health leadership is needed to shape practices and policies, as well as fostering the next generation of global health leaders.

The multifaceted nature of global health calls for a comprehensive approach to health—one that integrates policy, leadership, and equity into the core of public health strategies. The integration of health into all policies at the global level is vital for creating supportive environments, policies, services, and communications that promote better health for all.

Moderators

• Iveta Nagyova, President EUPHA
• Henrique Barros, President ASPHER and Professor of Epidemiology, School of Medicine, University of Porto, Portugal

Facilitator:

• Elena Petelos, President EUPHA Global health section

Speakers/Panellists

• Emma Rawson-Te Patu, President of the World Federation of Public Health Associations, Director of ManuKahu Associates, New Zealand
• Charles Agyemang, Professor of Global Migration, Ethnicity & Health, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands, Professor of Global Migration, Ethnicity & Health, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands
• Agnès Buzyn, Professor of Haematology, Paris-Sorbonne University, and Former Minister of Solidarity and Health, France
• Moredreck Chibi, Public Health Innovation Lead, WHO Regional Office for Europe
• Charlotte Marchandise, Executive Director EUPHA

Across Europe, people are grappling with a multitude of challenges, spanning from the cost of living to housing, food insecurity, climate change, conflicts, and social unrest. These adversities significantly impact individuals’ health and wellbeing, and create the conditions for persisting health inequalities.

At the root of these crises are unjust economic systems, in which the privileged few benefit while the majority face difficulties on a daily basis. Societies across Europe are witnessing rising polarisation and discrimination. Competitiveness and security are emerging as key priorities in the new European political landscape, with health and wellbeing pushed to the sidelines.

Tackling health inequalities in times of crisis requires urgent, targeted action across societal sectors and levels. Education emerges as a crucial equaliser, alongside income and social safety nets. Moreover, effective climate strategies must prioritise the needs of the most vulnerable population groups.

This plenary session lays the groundwork for understanding our contemporary, rapidly evolving landscape and its implications for addressing health inequalities. What lessons can we draw from new approaches across sectors that meet social and health needs, and how can we navigate these challenges – and sail those waves of innovation – to ensure equitable health and social justice for all?

Moderators

• Caroline Costongs, Director, EuroHealthNet
• Cristina Abreu Santos, Vice-President Instituto Nacional de Saúde Doutor Ricardo Jorge (INSA), Portugal

Keynote 1: Understanding and addressing health inequalities in times of crisis

• Fran Baum, The Stretton Institute, The University of Adelaide, Australia (by video message)

Keynote 2: The importance of addressing poverty and delivering on social rights for all: EU initiatives

• Katarina Ivanković Knežević, Director for Social Rights and Inclusion, Directorate-General Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, European Commission

Reflections from panellists: Challenges and impact of addressing inequalities across the life course:

Educational perspective:

• Didier Jourdan, UNESCO Chair ‘Global Health and Education’, University of Clermont-Auvergne, France

Environmental perspective:

• Jill Litt, Professor of Environmental Health in the Environmental Studies Programme, University of Colorado, USA and Senior researcher, Barcelona Institute of Global Health (ISGlobal), Spain

Panel discussion: Innovative approaches to ensure equitable health and social justice for all

Social marketing in health leverages the principles of traditional marketing to influence behaviours that benefit individuals and communities. It involves using marketing techniques to promote public health initiatives, aiming to change attitudes and behaviours towards healthier choices. By strategically framing health messages, social marketing can effectively reach diverse populations, encouraging them to adopt practices that enhance their wellbeing. This approach not only increases awareness about health issues but also empowers people to take proactive steps in managing their health, ultimately leading to improved public health outcomes.

Showcasing a forward-thinking approach to public health management, this plenary session seeks to shed light on the transformative role of interdisciplinary collaboration in enhancing health outcomes. Recognising that health and wellbeing are influenced by a myriad of actors beyond the healthcare sector, there is a growing imperative to empower professionals from diverse disciplines with health management principles. By effectively ‘social marketing’ health management to those outside the traditional health sector, such as in architecture, urban planning, construction, education, transportation, and manufacturing, health-oriented decision-making can be seamlessly integrated across these fields.

The session will highlight innovative approaches for engaging non-health stakeholders in decision-making processes, leveraging the expertise of health management and public health professionals. By facilitating a dialogue between health professionals and experts from other sectors, the session will explore the potential and challenges of intersectoral partnerships, and challenge policymakers, health managers, and stakeholders in the health sector to actively engage non-health professionals in their pursuit of improved health outcomes for European citizens.

Case studies from across Europe where interdisciplinary collaborations have led to social programming and infrastructure developments that enhance health and wellbeing will be presented. The case study ‘Compassionate leadership’ will delve into how organisation leaders can harness their health management capacity to foster a supportive environment that prioritises wellbeing. ‘Health-centric design in public spaces’ will demonstrate the impact of designing public areas with a focus on health, showcasing how thoughtful urban planning can significantly enhance community health. The third case study, ‘Architecture for better health and healing’ will highlight the role of architectural design in promoting health and recovery, emphasising the importance of creating spaces that support healing. Finally, ‘Educating to health’ will underline the significance of educating young people to healthy habits, sustainability, and physical and mental wellbeing, illustrating how this can lead to healthier communities. By fostering broader interdisciplinary collaboration, it is possible to unlock innovative solutions to health challenges and ultimately create healthier, more resilient communities across Europe.

Moderator

• Tiago Correia, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Portugal and Board Member of the European Health Management Association

Speakers/Panellists

• Marina Macchiaiolo, Rare Diseases and Medical Genetics Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Italy, and President of the Italian Committee for the United World Colleges (UWC)
• Stanislava Boskovic, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Imperial College London, United Kingdom
• Stefano Capolongo, Department of Architecture, Construction Engineering and Built Environment (ABC), Politecnico di Milano, Italy
• George Valiotis, Executive Director of Health Technology Assessment International (HTAi)

The One Health concept is a comprehensive approach that highlights the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health. Understanding these interrelationships is essential for effectively managing and mitigating emerging health threats. This approach emphasizes that health issues arise from a complex web of interactions involving humans, animals, and ecosystems.

Emerging health threats, such as zoonotic diseases (e.g., mpox, Ebola, avian influenza), antibiotic resistance, and environmental degradation, pose significant risks to global health. Zoonotic diseases, which are transmitted between animals and humans, highlight the direct links between animal and human health. The increase in antibiotic resistance, driven by overuse in both human medicine and livestock farming, leads to the rise of resistant pathogens. Environmental issues like climate change, deforestation, and pollution further exacerbate these threats by altering habitats, disrupting ecosystems, and affecting disease vectors.

Addressing these interconnected challenges requires a unified approach that integrates human, animal, and environmental considerations. For example, climate change can shift the distribution of disease vectors like mosquitoes, leading to the spread of diseases such as malaria and dengue fever. Likewise, deforestation can heighten the risk of zoonotic spillover by bringing humans into closer contact with wildlife.

To tackle these complex challenges, several measures are crucial:

• Integrated surveillance systems
  Developing systems that monitor human, animal, and environmental health data collectively can improve early detection of outbreaks. Sharing information across sectors is a prerequisite for effective identification of emerging threats.
• Strengthening veterinary and public health collaboration
  Joint research, surveillance, and outbreak management efforts can lead to a more coordinated approach to health emergencies.
• Promoting One Health education and training
  Educating professionals in various fields fosters a collaborative approach to health issues. Training programmes can build a shared understanding of health interconnections.
• Implementing sustainable environmental practices
  Adopting sustainable practices to address environmental degradation helps reduce risks associated with habitat destruction and pollution.
• International collaboration and agreements facilitate resource sharing, information exchange, and best practices.

To enhance public health strategies within the One Health framework:

• Enhance interdisciplinary research
  Promote research on the intersections of human, animal, and environmental health to understand how changes in one area affect others and to develop more effective interventions.
• Foster community engagement
  Engage communities to improve the adoption of preventive measures and build resilience against health threats through public awareness and community-based programs.
• Leverage technology and innovation
  Innovations can offer valuable insights such as data analytics, remote sensing, and genomic surveillance.

In our upcoming plenary session, experts from veterinary and public health sciences will present practical examples on One Health collaboration in Europe and discuss how to address challenges in implementing the approach.

Moderator

• Ricardo Mexia, Chair of the 17th EPH Conference 2024, President EUPHA Infectious diseases control section

Keynote speaker

• Roser Domenech Amado, Director for One Health, Directorate General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE), European Commission

Speakers/Panellists

• Stef Bronzwaer, Cross-Agency One Health Task Force, European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)
• Barbara Häsler, Royal Veterinary College, United Kingdom
• Susana Guedes Pombo, Chief Veterinary Officer, Portugal, President World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH)
• Eva Zažímalová, Member of European Commission’s Group of Chief Scientific Advisors, Professor of Plant Anatomy and Physiology, Charles University, Czech Republic

Moderator

• Ricardo Mexia, Chair of the 17th EPH Conference 2024

Speaker

• Ricardo Baptista Leite, Chief Executive Officer at HealthAI – The Global Agency for Responsible AI in Health

European Public Health Week 2025

• Charlotte Marchandise, Executive Director EUPHA

Award Ceremony: Best Poster, Best Abstract, Ference Bojan Award

• Martin McKee, President European Public Health Conference Foundation

Welcome to the 18th EPH Conference 2025, Helsinki, Finland

• Ilmo Keskimäki, Chair of the 18^th EPH Conference 2025