Dineke Zeegers Paget

European Public Health Association

In this European public health news, we are touching upon urgent public health issues where European and even global collaboration is essential. De Kat et al. present the European Immunization agenda 2030, endorsed by all 53 countries in the European Region. This agenda intends to keep immunization as a priority on the political agenda and—as vacci...

Welcome to the first European Public Health News of 2022. In this section, you will find information on COVID-19 (again), fighting cancer and the upcoming European public health conference. Zeegers compares the COVID-19 pandemic with the AIDS pandemic. Despite many differences, there are general lessons to be learned. Smelov et al. from WHO Europe...

In this article, we examine what the role of the private sector in times of crises is and whether the private sector is, and can be held to be, accountable. COVID-19 has amplified the difficulties with public–private partnerships and this article addresses several aspects concerning business enterprises, in particular transnational corporations, hu...

Never have there been stronger voices to protect the rights of women and girls to health and education and never had we more opportunities to come together as a global public health community. We need to move to action to demonstrate the criticality of addressing these issues for sustainable development and to ensure resilience and prosperity for a...

Background The international public health (PH) community is debating the opportunity to incorporate genomic technologies into PH practice. A survey was conducted to assess attitudes of the European Public Health Association (EUPHA) members towards their role in the implementation of public health genomics (PHG), and their knowledge and attitudes t...

In this article, we examine the essential role of law in achieving the health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Following the World Health Organization's broad definition of health, all SDGs can be seen to impact on human health and hence the health goal (SDG3) should be right at the centre of the entire 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Deve...

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of goals that aspire to 'leave no one behind', adopted by all members of the United Nations and to be achieved by 2030. Now, four years after the SDGs entered into force, we examine the progress towards the health-related SDGs in the European region. In this region, least progress is made towards t...

Following the decision by the EUPHA/EPH Conference Green Club to use the WHO EURO checklist for healthy and sustainable meetings for the EPH Conferences in Ljubljana 2018, the Green Club thought it a good idea to set a baseline on the health-related and sustainability measures for conferences organised in Europe. If we could compare several Europea...

Background Aviation is accountable for significant emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2). Factors determining emissions include, e.g., trip distance, aircraft fuel efficiency, cabin class, atmospheric conditions, and stopovers. Approaches to estimate the carbon footprint are available, e.g., as carbon emissions calculators, offered by carbon offset pro...

The World Health Assembly Resolution on Digital Health unanimously approved by WHO Member States in May 2018 demonstrated a collective recognition of the value of digital technologies to contribute to advancing universal health coverage (UHC) and other health aims of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The World Health Organization has just r...

The challenges we face are complex in nature, and require multidisciplinary and intersectoral action at different governance levels. Therefore, EUPHA will reinforce its two-tier approach. On the one hand, we will support our members in providing high quality and efficient public health and health care services in European countries, regions and loc...

2019 is the last full year of the EUPHA strategy 2014-2020: Voicing knowledge. Enhancing capacity. The 2014-2020 strategy has allowed EUPHA to strengthen capacity building throughout Europe and has given our EUPHA sections and EUPHAnxt the visibility they deserve. Voicing knowledge has made big steps forwards with the help of our two presidents: Ma...

Over the years, the main European institutions active in health [European Union, and the Regional Office for Europe of the World Health Organization (WHO)] have played active roles in policy for public health in Europe. Yet, more recent developments have called into question the place of public health on the European political agenda. In this artic...

Background: For better supporting the science-governance interface, the potential of health assessments appears underrated. Aims: To identify what various types of health assessment have in common; how they differ; which assessment(s) to apply for which purpose; and what needs and options there are for future joint development. Methods: This r...

It is now 3 months since the British people voted narrowly to leave the European Union (EU). The absence of any agreement on what the alternative is, or a coherent plan to achieve it means that this may not actually happen. However, the resulting uncertainty creates major challenges, not only for the UK, which has suffered immediate economic damage...

In this European public health news, we welcome the final contribution from McKee as EUPHA president. In his last column, McKee highlights the current ‘hot’ topics in Europe (migration, austerity and Brexit) and emphasises the need to continue working together. To reflect the current terrorist activities in Europe, the office column is very short a...

In this European Public Health News, we address the need for a common approach from the individual, from the health care worker, from the politician and from the community. McKee stresses the task and commitment of the public health community to make a change, using the refugee problem in Europe as an example. Zeegers uses personal experience to em...

This last European Public Health News of 2015 focuses on solidarity. McKee reflects on the horrible events in Paris on 13 November 2015 and expresses solidarity ‘Nous sommes tous des Parisiens’. Zeegers Paget reflects on the solidarity within the public health community; Jakab expresses WHO’s support for the refugee problem in Europe. Barnhoorn sum...

Aims: Many studies have analysed Twitter's use by attendees of scientific meetings and the characteristics of conference-related messages and most active attendees. Despite these previous reports, to date no studies have described the use of Twitter during Public Health conferences. For this reason, we decided to perform an analysis of Twitter's u...

European non-governmental organizations very often struggle with their sustainability. This sustainability is focused on two levels: financial and organizational. Financial sustainability—in times of economic crisis—is at the forefront. Next to own income, such as membership fees, most European NGOs have to find extra sources of income. Projects an...

In this main European public health (EPH) news, there is a clear call for the public health community to unite (Andriukaitis), combine efforts (McKee, Zeegers Paget) and to work intersectoral (Jakab). We need all of this to make the voice of the public health community visible and loud. # President's Column {#article-title-2} One of the most impo...

In this European Public Health news, health is put at the centre of society as it is impacting us from birth until death. Jakab emphasizes the importance of investing in health over the life-course, whilst McKee demonstrates that the whole society impacts health. A strong, unified health care system and seeing healthy people as the cornerstone of h...

In this European public health news, the main topics are governance, leadership and communication. Jakab addresses governance and emphasizes the need for enabling and rewarding joint action. McKee showcases the Glasgow 2014 conference as an excellent and much needed tool for communication. Zeegers Paget elaborates on the new leadership role for EUP...

Health Impact Assessment (HIA) is a broad methodology widely used in Europe since at least 20 years. However, it is often considered abstract, especially by policy makers and practitioners. One of the main reasons is that there is an ongoing confusion about what is and what is not HIA in practice, even among public health professionals. In order fo...

In this European public health news, all authors reflect on potential threats and an unstable Europe (McKee, Jakab) and the impact this has on public health. All agree that a comprehensive (Jakab), collaborative (Zeegers) and global (McKee) approach is necessary to make sure that public health in Europe and in the world remains a strong partner to...

EUPHA unique value EUPHA has a unique position in the field of public health in Europe. It is the largest network of public health professionals and covers nearly all countries of Europe, as defined by the WHO Regional Office for Europe. EUPHA has an excellent reputation of being a strong, independent and broad science-based network. EUPHA has the...

In this European public health news, the focus is in the first place on EUPHA itself. In his last column as EUPHA President, Ricciardi reiterates EUPHA’s commitment in working for European public health and bringing together public health professionals at its annual conference. Zeegers shows light on what it is to work for EUPHA Office. On a Europe...

Issue/problem Public Health aims at building bridges between scientific research and “real world” governance and policy-making. The science / policy interface is discussed extensively in the literature. Existing approaches include “assessments” which combine factual analysis and evaluative elements in order to support policy-making. Prominent exa...

This European public health news is looking at the future, and foremost at putting the health of our citizens first. Public health needs to move forward and the way forward includes support, collaboration, integration and an investment in the future public health professionals. Ricciardi emphasizes both the need for collaboration and the need for s...

T his European public health news further defines international collaboration in the widest sense. Ricciardi highlights the discussion in the European Union (EU) Expert panel on health where it was agreed that the future of health care should be focused on patient involvement. Zeegers continues with the second objective of the draft EUPHA 2014–20 (...

This European Public Health News is focusing on international collaboration. Ricciardi summarizes the outcome of an international meeting where the impact of genomic technologies on public health practice was discussed. The conclusion is that further action is needed and this action should be coordinated at international level. Zeegers focuses on t...

In this European public health news, we are looking at some current public health topics. Ricciardi looks at the future of vaccines and calls for researchers to develop new universal criteria against which to evaluate new vaccines. Jakab writes about the public health aspects of migration, which has become a structural phenomenon creating specific...

This European public health news is all about care. Ricciardi is concerned with a lack of care for public health research in the European Commission’s work plan for Research 2014–15. Zeegers Paget shows that the European Public Health Association (EUPHA)’s activities in 2013 demonstrate care and concern for European public health. Jakab discusses t...

Background: The European Public Health Association (EUPHA) proposed and led PHIRE (Public Health Innovation and Research in Europe), with co-financing by the European Commission, to assess public health innovation and research at national level in Europe. PHIRE was also designed to promote organizational development and capacity building of EUPHA....

Background: PHIRE (Public Health Innovation and Research in Europe) was developed for the national member associations and individual researchers of the European Public Health Association (EUPHA) to engage collectively with the health research agenda in Europe. It was co-funded by the European Commission's Directorate for Health and Consumers with...

Introduction: Research and innovation are the basis for improving health and health services. The European Union (EU) supports research through multi-annual programmes. Public Health Innovation and Research in Europe (PHIRE) investigated how European countries cooperate for action in public health research. Methods: In PHIRE, following stakehold...

In this European Public Health News, we have a newcomer: the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has joined our efforts with a column on sustainable European collaboration. The Regional Director of World Health Organization (WHO) Europe announces the setting up of collaboration on antibiotic resistance. The European Commission emphas...

This first European Public Health News of 2013 is closely related to the theme of the 2013 European Public Health Conference: ‘Health in Europe: are we there yet? Learning from the past, building the future’. Chaze and Adam show that more needs to be done in patient safety; Jakab shows how WHO Europe helps build the future with the Health 2020 init...

On the eve of celebrating European Public Health Association’s (EUPHA’s) 20th anniversary, it is a good moment to reflect on the use, misuse and especially underuse of non-governmental organisations (NGO) in European public health policy and planning. There are numerous NGOs in Europe, supporting, promoting and disseminating public health in Europ...

John Tobin. The Right to Health in International Law. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2012, 416 pages. ISBN: 978-0199603299 This book provides a historical, philosophical and practical guide to the right to health in international law. Going back as far as Aristotle's decree ‘men … have an absolute right to such measure of good health as society...

In this European public health news, the focus is on capacity building, within and beyond our network of public health professionals using old and new communication methods. Communication on health financing (Jakab), tobacco (Spanou) or communication in itself (Zeegers) is an essential part of European public health. Communication should be tailore...