26 - 29 September | Hybrid Conference | Bad Hofgastein
Under the patronage of the Austrian Federal President, Alexander Van der Bellen, the EHFG will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2022 and take stock of the substantial accomplishments in public health over the last quarter century. At the same time, we will look forward and discuss the challenges and policy options for action urgently needed across sectors, borders, and disciplines at this watershed moment for health, security, and solidarity. This is the window of opportunity to co-create a true European Health Union! “Building forward better” requires fundamental transformation of the way our societies operate – and this can only be achieved through peace in Europe, supported by political will, collaboration, and unity. Only by shooting for the moon and leaving “business as usual” firmly in the past do we stand a chance of succeeding in our mission to build a healthier, more equitable, and sustainable future for all.
Johannes Rauch
Federal Minister of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection, Austria
Christopher Fearne
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Health, Malta
Leonore Gewessler
Federal Minister for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology, Austria
Daniels Pavļuts
Minister for Health, Latvia
Stella Kyriakides
European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety
Hans Kluge
Regional Director for Europe, World Health Organization
Sandra Gallina
Director-General, European Commission Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety
Pierre Delsaux
Director-General, European Commission Directorate-General for Health Emergency Preparedness and Response
Mario Nava
Director General, European Commission Directorate General for Structural Reform Support
Andrea Ammon
Director, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
Emer Cooke
Executive Director, European Medicines Agency
Ayoade Alakija
Co-Chair, Africa Vaccine Delivery Alliance
Sally Davies
UK Special Envoy on Antimicrobial Resistance
Mario Monti
Chair, Pan-European Commission on Health and Sustainable Development
Ilona Kickbusch
Founding Director and Chair of the Global Health Centre, Graduate Institute for International and Development Studies Geneva
Michael Marmot
Director, The UCL Institute of Health Equity
Abigail Perry
Director of Nutrition, World Food Programme
Runa Khan
Honorary President, One Sustainable Health Forum Approach
Milka Sokolović
Director General, European Public Health Alliance
Vytenis Andriukaitis
Special Envoy for the European Region, World Health Organization
Björn Kümmel
Deputy Head of Unit on Global Health, German Ministry of Health
In times of crisis, innovation tends to receive diminished attention. Yet, it is a key ally in overcoming complex health challenges and tackling health disparities. Join us on this journey to discover how transformative methods can catalyse our fight against NCDs and rare diseases, bring us a step closer to achieving data mobility, improve infection management strategies, increase access to organ transplantation, and more. We will debate the role that innovation can play in realising – and sustaining - a true European Health Union and discuss what is needed to harvest such promises.
Building forward better needs concrete plans to translate ideas into reality. Sessions in this track will discuss the crucial role of policy reforms and initiatives in building resilient and sustainable healthcare systems to serve our communities. Topics will include the importance of adequate financing, prioritising the well-being of our healthcare workforce, and the ethical dilemmas behind policy development in the context of a pandemic. We will have the unique opportunity of contributing to the development of the new EU Global Health Strategy, and will consider how to deepen and advance collaborative efforts to improve access to novel medicines.
How can we meet the “good ancestor test” and transition to a sustainable well-being society that does not breach ecological limits? We look forward to exploring success stories of grassroots health promotion and climate activism, as well as learning about best practice when it comes to health equity and the inclusion of marginalised groups. In this track we will debate practical approaches to shifting how we understand and build societal health and prosperity, by looking beyond economic growth to collective well-being and environmental sustainability. Let’s explore new narratives and strategies together, with a view to making well-being one of the core pillars of our true European Health Union.