Health In Europe

Are young people really the ‘problematic’ drinkers in the WHO European Region?

Alcohol harms everyone and there is no safe limit to alcohol consumption when it comes to health. A new episode of the ‘Health in Europe’ podcast gives the mic over to young people who discuss the harms and policies that are needed with input from Dr Carina Ferreira-Borges, Programme Manager for Alcohol and Illicit Drugs, WHO European Office for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases.Notes:Space Invaders : Young people's views about alcohol digital marketing https://www.who.int/europe/multi-media/item/space-invaders-young-people-s-views-about-alcohol-digital-marketingA SAFER European Region free from harm due to alcohol https://www.who.int/europe/multi-media/item/a-safer-european-region-free-from-harm-due-to-alcoholEuropean framework for action on alcohol 2022–2025 https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/361662

Eliminating cervical cancer

More than 30,000 women die from cervical cancer in the WHO European Region every year. But cervical cancer is a preventable disease and elimination of cervical cancer is within our reach. In this episode, we speak with Allison Ekberg, Advisor on Health Policy and hear interventions from Dr Nino Berdzuli, Director of the Country Health Programme at the WHO Regional Office for Europe.NotesEliminating cervical cancer in the WHO European Regionhttps://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/362396/72bg17e-Roadmap-CervicalCancer.pdfWhat is the Global strategy on cervical cancer?https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240014107HPV and cervical cancerhttps://www.who.int/teams/immunization-vaccines-and-biologicals/policies/position-papers/human-papillomavirus-(hpv)

What do we mean by quality of care?

Quality of care is an important part of any health system. In this episode, we speak with Dimitra Panteli, of the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, and Dr Joao Breda, head of a new WHO office in Athens focusing on quality of care, to find out more about WHO’s work in this area.Show notes:How can health technology assessment contribute to quality of care? https://eurohealthobservatory.who.int/news-room/events/item/2022/03/08/default-calendar/how-can-health-technology-assessment-contribute-to-quality-of-careWhat role do clinical guidelines play in quality of care? https://eurohealthobservatory.who.int/news-room/events/item/2022/03/15/default-calendar/what-role-do-clinical-guidelines-play-in-quality-of-careHow can using financial incentives improve quality of care? https://eurohealthobservatory.who.int/news-room/events/item/2022/03/22/default-calendar/how-can-using-financial-incentives-improve-quality-of-care

Managing mass casualty incidents

In this episode, WHO/Europe’s Press and Media Relations Officer, Bhanu Bhatnagar, speaks with Professor Johan von Schreeb about his experience dealing with mass casualty incidents during times of war as well as his work with WHO to train health workers and specialists who may face such devastating and overwhelming situations.Show notes:The importance of mass casualty training in the context of the Ukraine war: Interview with Professor Johan von Schreeb: https://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/health-emergencies/ukraine-emergency/news/news/2022/05/the-importance-of-mass-casualty-training-in-the-context-of-the-war-in-ukraine-an-interview-with-professor-johan-von-schreeb 

Launch of the 2022 European Obesity Report

Not a single country in the WHO European Region is on track to stop the rise in obesity by 2025 – that’s according to the 2022 European Obesity Report. What’s more, the report highlights serious risks to people’s health – including a stark warning obesity might overtake smoking as the main risk for preventable cancer. In this episode we dig more into the report and find out what countries can do to reverse this trend.Show notes: Obesity causes cancer and is major determinant of disability and death, warns new WHO report: https://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/Life-stages/pages/news/news/2022/5/obesity-causes-cancer-and-is-major-determinant-of-disability-and-death,-warns-new-who-reportNew WHO report: Europe can reverse its obesity “epidemic”: https://www.euro.who.int/en/media-centre/sections/press-releases/2022/new-who-report-europe-can-reverse-its-obesity-epidemicWHO European Regional Obesity Report 2022: https://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/noncommunicable-diseases/obesity/publications/2022/who-european-regional-obesity-report-2022

An outbreak of polio is declared over

As we mark European Immunization Week – WHO confirms that a polio outbreak in Tajikistan has ended following a comprehensive response. We speak with Dr Shahin Huseynov to find out how this was achieved. While Dr Siddhartha Datta speaks about the importance of vaccine equity as we continue to face COVID-19.SHOW NOTES: Comprehensive outbreak response successfully stops spread of polio in Tajikistan: https://www.who.int/europe/news/item/28-04-2022-comprehensive-outbreak-response-successfully-stops-spread-of-polio-in-tajikistanEuropean Immunization Week 2022: https://www.who.int/europe/news-room/events/item/2022/04/24/default-calendar/european-immunization-week-2022European Immunization Week 2022 – celebrating progress and addressing new challenges in the control of vaccine-preventable diseases: https://www.who.int/europe/news/item/26-04-2022-but-for-the-covid-19-vaccine--i-might-not-be-here-now----the-difference-the-jab-has-made-to-someone-at-high-risk-of-severe-disease“But for the COVID-19 vaccine, I might not be here now” – the difference the jab has made to someone at high risk of severe disease: https://www.who.int/europe/news/item/25-04-2022-european-immunization-week-2022---celebrating-progress-and-addressing-new-challenges-in-the-control-of-vaccine-preventable-diseases

Training the next generation of laboratory leaders

Labs form an often unseen yet crucial part of any health system. In this episode we find out more about the role of laboratories in health, their day-to-day work as well as what WHO and partners are doing to train up the next generation of laboratory leaders – including a recent training in Kazakhstan.Show notes:Preparing the next generation of laboratory leaders: https://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/Health-systems/laboratory-services/news/news/2022/2/preparing-the-next-generation-of-laboratory-leadersGlobal Laboratory Leadership Programme (GLLP): https://www.who.int/initiatives/global-laboratory-leadership-programme

Looking back on the Economics of Ageing

You may remember a couple of weeks ago we spoke about the Economics of Ageing webinar series. In this episode, we speak with Dr Jon Cylus of the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies about the webinars and what comes next.Show notes:Where do we find the money to fund healthcare for an ageing population? [https://eurohealthobservatory.who.int/news-room/events/item/2022/01/18/default-calendar/where-do-we-find-the-money-to-fund-healthcare-for-an-ageing-population]Can the costs of caring for an ageing population be controlled? [https://eurohealthobservatory.who.int/news-room/events/item/2022/01/25/default-calendar/can-the-costs-of-caring-for-an-ageing-population-be-controlled]Is the politics of ageing creating conflict between generations? [https://eurohealthobservatory.who.int/news-room/events/item/2022/02/01/default-calendar/is-the-politics-of-ageing-creating-conflict-between-generations]

Caring for children with cancer

In this episode we speak about a new report from WHO/Europe on inequities in treatment for childhood cancer in the Region and hear from Aron Anderson, WHO/Europe’s Ambassador on Cancer who himself beat cancer at a young age. Show notesNew WHO report highlights scale of childhood cancer inequalities in the European Region: https://www.who.int/europe/news/item/15-02-2022-new-who-report-highlights-scale-of-childhood-cancer-inequalities-in-the-european-regionWHO European Report on Inequalities in Childhood Cancer: https://www.who.int/europe/publications/m/item/childhood-cancer-inequalities-in-the-who-european-region-2022-report

Screening for cancer – not an easy solution

Screening for diseases like cancer may seem a simple solution to catch the disease before it becomes serious. But in this episode we find out how complicated screening for cancer is. Show NotesWhen is screening for cancer the right course of action?LINK: https://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/noncommunicable-diseases/cancer/news/news/2022/2/when-is-screening-for-cancer-the-right-course-of-actionA short guide to cancer screening. Increase effectiveness, maximize benefits and minimize harm (2022)LINK: https://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/noncommunicable-diseases/cancer/publications/2022/a-short-guide-to-cancer-screening.-increase-effectiveness,-maximize-benefits-and-minimize-harm-2022 WHO Candid Conversations - Aron Anderson and Sue CohenLINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XavsJ1tc4iY