Over 500 high-level representatives, including many health ministers from the 53 Member States of the WHO European Region, reviewed 10 years of public health progress, addressed remaining and new challenges and nominated a new Regional Director at the 69th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe in Copenhagen, Denmark, on 16–19 September 2019.

Together with partners and civil society representatives, they marked the achievements of Health 2020, the European policy for health and well-being that has driven the Region’s efforts on health towards sustainable development.

Key discussion topics of the conference were among others:

Taking stock of Health 2020’s legacy: Health 2020 has been a forerunner of 2030’s Sustainable Development Goals, focusing on issues such as the right to health, universal health coverage, social determinants, equity, people-centred systems, well-being and resilience.

-Tackling the challenges ahead: The Regional Committee provided input to several global initiatives and strategies, including accelerating cervical cancer elimination, advancing tuberculosis research and innovation, and establishing the Decade of Healthy Ageing 2020–2030.

Click here to read more about the highlights of the conference

The new Regional Director:

Interview with Dr Hans Kluge

Patient Safety: a global health priority

On the first-ever World Patient Safety Day on 17 September 2019, WHO launched a global campaign to create awareness of patient safety and urge people to show their commitment to making healthcare safer.

Click for more information:

World Patient Safety Day 2019 website