More than 600 delegates have gathered in Budapest for the WHO EURO regional committee meeting deliberating how to improve Europe’s health, through – for instance – assessing progress in reducing alcohol harm, tackling NCDs and achieving the SDGs. Read the highlights of the first day of the meeting…

WHO EURO: Regional Committee Under Way

Health ministers and high-level representatives of the 53 Member States of the WHO European Region as well as partner organizations and civil society will take part in the 67th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe in Budapest, Hungary, between September 11 to 14, 2017.

The #RC67 will deliberate about the following agenda items:

  • Opportunities and challenges for 21st-century public health in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals and the Health 2020 policy framework;
  • Improving environment and health in the context of Health 2020 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with a focus on outcomes of the 6th Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health;
  • Working towards a sustainable health workforce in the WHO European Region through a framework for action;
  • Strengthening Member State collaboration on improving access to medicines in the WHO European Region;
  • Accelerating implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005) and strengthening laboratory capacities for better health in the WHO European Region; and
  • Building regional partnerships for health.

Alcohol policy in Europe on the agenda

The 4-day programme also includes progress reports on the implementation of the European action plan to reduce the harmful use of alcohol 2012–2020, the European food and nutrition action plan 2015–2020, and the European mental health action plan. A final report on the implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005) in the Region will also be shared.

Additionally, 4 members of the Executive Board will be nominated and 4 members of the Standing Committee of the Regional Committee will be elected, along with elections for other important boards.

The session is webcast live, and there will be real-time coverage on Twitter using the hashtag #RC67.

Summary of day one highlights, via Storify


Source Website: WHO EURO