Pre-conference: Policies supporting NCD prevention at regional, national and local levels – effective, aligned and equitable? (PREV)
Tuesday 11 November, 13:30 – 17:00 Helsinki time
(Starting with network lunch at 12:30)
Organised by
Joint Action PreventNCD
Background
Policies that effectively promote health and prevent noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) have only increased in importance against the backdrop of recent and rapid political changes in the world, accompanied by changes in budgetary priorities. Strained health care systems, a continuously high prevalence of NCDs and NCDs risk exposure linked with living environments that do not support healthy lives, makes the case for preventive policies an urgent one.
To support strategies and policies designed to reduce the burden of NCDs and their risk factors, both at a personal and societal level, is an overall objective of the Joint Action PreventNCD project. This collaboration of 25 European countries has ambitious targets and seeks to instigate a step change for NCD prevention and supportive policy development across Europe. With more than 100 partners involved and a total budget of more than €95 million, the expectations are high for generating real impact on lowering the NCD burden and health inequalities in Europe. Improved capacity for NCD prevention, effective implementation of best and innovative practices and better policy alignment are important project outcomes, supported by actionable policy recommendations and effective dissemination efforts.
In this pre-conference we want to shed light on some of the successes of policies that support NCD prevention at regional, national and local levels, but also examine the challenges. Which public health challenges can local authorities largely solve single-handedly, when is national legislation required and in which areas are European-level policies necessary to achieve public health objectives? Furthermore, to what extent is health equity addressed or implicated at various policy levels?
First, we will learn about the role of primary prevention and intersectoral approaches in the forthcoming European Commission Plan for HeartHealth. To assess the role of this supranational body in tobacco prevention, we will review the status of legislative approaches for tobacco prevention and implications for national and local work, based on activities in JA PreventNCD. A particular focus will be on industry interference in tobacco control work and recommended mitigation measures. Another area where cross-country collaboration is paramount is in transforming the food system, to promote healthy and sustainable diets compatible with achieving the SDGs. JA PreventNCD partners will elaborate on the most important steps needed, the role of different governance levels in effecting change and how the Health in All Policies approach can help identify the leverage points for intervention. Furthermore, insights are provided into how the food industry attempts to influence national food environment policies, based on JA PreventNCD work on corporate political activities in four European countries.
With a national policy lens, we will review the evidence on how health taxation for public health objectives may contribute to reduced health inequalities. We will investigate the potential of health taxation in Europe, by demonstrating policy differences among European countries.
Next, a policy mapping in JA PreventNCD will demonstrate the extent to which health inequities are addressed in national policy documents on NCDs and their common risk factors across 17 countries in Europe. As an example of how local policy actions can be aligned with and anchored at national and regional levels, we will learn about European collaboration to promote public food procurement standards and networks for healthier and more sustainable food provision in public institutions.
Finally, although local public health action can vastly impact NCD prevention on its own, it often requires buy-in from other sectors. JA PreventNCD partners will discuss the role of intersectorality and decision makers’ commitment in the adoption and implementation of local policies. As an example of how national legislation can instigate local action, we will hear about how national public health legislation in Norway over the last 15 years has formed a model for putting local public health on the agenda, tightly linked with the political cycle.
The pre-conference will conclude with a panel discussion among high level public health officials, academics and youth on current political developments, future directions and implictions for public health. There will be opportunities for the audience to comment and ask questions following the short presentations, as well as during the panel discussion.
Programme
13:30 – 14:10
Opening session
Welcome and introduction to JA PreventNCD
Knut-Inge Klepp, Scientific Coordinator JA PreventNCD
Objectives of the pre-conference and introduction to the sessions
Hanna Tolonen, current president of EUPHA Public health monitoring and reporting section and member of JA PreventNCD (moderator of the pre-conference)
Primary prevention and intersectoral approaches in the forthcoming European Commission Plan for Cardiovascular Health
Marianne Takki, European Commission, DG Santé
14:10 – 15:00
Health promotion and NCD prevention initiatives at European level – support for national action
20 years of WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control – successes and challenges in the EU
Hanna Ollila, THL (Finland), thematic coordinator for tobacco JA PreventNCD
Transforming food systems for healthy and sustainable diets – a synergistic approach between food environments and food systems
Ellen Huan-Niemi, Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), JA PreventNCD
How the food industry shapes food environment policies: corporate political activities in four EU countries
Silke Cnockaert, Sciensano (Belgium), JA PreventNCD
Health taxation and alcohol warning labels – contributing to reduced health inequalities?
Maria Neufeld, WHO Regional Office for Europe
15:00 – 15:20
Break with refreshments
15:20 – 15:55
Health equity in national policy making and the case of public food procurement
To what extent are health inequities addressed in national policies on NCDs or their risk factors? Preliminary findings from policy mapping in 17 European countries
Kadri Tammur, Directorate of Health (Norway), JA PreventNCD
Oscar Garcia, Fisabio (Spain), JA PreventNCD
How public procurement drives food system change
Betina Bergmann Madsen, Team lead Public Procurement and food, Expert & Coordinator of the EU PFP Network, City of Copenhagen (Denmark), JA PreventNCD
15:55 – 16:20
NCD prevention at community level
Intersectorality and decision makers’ commitment in the adoption and implementation of local policies
Rosana Peiró Pérez, Fisabio (Spain) JA PreventNCD
The Norwegian Public Health Act – a cornerstone for local public health action and accountability
Arnfinn Helleve, Institute of Public Health (Norway), JA PreventNCD
16:20 – 17:00
Panel discussion: Current political developments: where are we heading & implications for public health and equity
Auli Väänänen, Senior Specialist, Finnish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
Maria Neufeld, WHO Regional Office for Europe
Karan Courtney, Nutrition Specialist, UNICEF Europe and Central Asia Regional Office
Sofia Bergqvist, Finnish member of JA PreventNCD Youth Advisory Group
Harry Rutter, Professor of global public health, University of Bath & Chair of JA PreventNCD External Expert Advisory Board
The session is moderated by Hanna Tolonen. Questions and comments from the audience will be welcome.
Registration
The registration fee is EUR 25. Networking lunch and refreshments are included.