The general objectives of the 2008 EUPHA conference are to build the capacity of public health experts by actively organising the European (international) exchange of knowledge and best practice and to organise a successful European public health conference.

More particularly, EUPHA 2008 aims to:

• substantially contribute to capacity building in the area of European public health
• share public health knowledge (research, policy, practice and training) between public health experts from over 50 countries from a wide array of public health fields
• provide a plenum for EU policies and projects with an audience of public health experts
• create, support and promote close and active collaboration links among European research and training professionals
• disseminate health innovation concepts and practices by making use of the EUPHA network
• disseminate research results to practise, training, research, policy
• promote innovation in European health care systems and services according to EU strategies and policies
• produce new knowledge to arrive at a healthier and wealthier society, to improve and protect human health
• inform and mobilise public and official bodies in the organising country for the promotion of public health
• present, share and provide a plenum for the state of the art of research and practice

The above objectives contribute mainly to the third objective of the health programme 2008 - 2013 - to generate and disseminate information and knowledge. However, the scientific programme which is based on submitted abstracts (this year over 700) and workshops organised by e.g. our 16 theme-specific sections, widely cover the other two strands of the 2008 Work Plan, as well.

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The key aim is to aid EU Member States to develop, select and implement more cost-effective policies to improve chronic disease prevention and impact upon populations with the highest rates of premature deaths from chronic diseases and reduce health inequalities.

The specific objectives are to:
1) seek consensus among relevant experts, policy makers and international organisations on the methodology for measuring cost-effectiveness of interventions to prevent, screen and treat chronic diseases taking into consideration the cost of externalities.
2) develop a demonstration model for integrated approaches to address cost-effectiveness of various interventions for chronic disease prevention, particularly to demonstrate the differential effects of interventions on various population sub groups.

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The general objective of the 6th EPH Conference is to strengthen the capacity of public health professionals, researchers and policy makers by enhancing the exchange of knowledge, policy and best practice across Europe. More specifically, the conference aims to:
- offer a platform for exchanging knowledge, sharing research outcomes and discussing best practice at a European level;
- create, support and promote close and active collaboration links among European public health networks, organisations and schools of public health;
- increase knowledge and skills among EUPHA and ASPHER member associations by the organisation of capacity building seminars;
- support the objectives of the second EU Health Programme and the new Health for Growth Programme, the third programme of the EU in the field of health for the period 2014-2020.

The thematic priorities for the conference focus on `Health in Europe: are we there yet?` Major topics include twenty years of public health mandate in the European Union and new challenges in public health and health services research in a rapidly changing Europe.

These priorities were chosen so as to encourage exchange of knowledge and to promote discussion on how European public health can contribute to the economic and demographic challenges in Europe and to allow for reflection on the achievements made in the past twenty years under Treaty of Maastricht and also invites stimulating thoughts about the future of EU health policies.

This is clearly reflected in the theme and sub-themes of the conference, which include:
- Health in Europe: are we there yet? - learning from the past, building the future;
- Population changes and the impact on health;
- The limits to the evidence-base for public health;
- How to make it happen? On the development of people and institutions in public health.

EUPHA sections and ASPHER working groups cover priority issues such as health promotion, non-communicable diseases, health systems research, infectious diseases control, public health core competences and education accreditation in pre-conferences and in the parallel programme.

Both the plenary programme and the workshops of the parallel programme link up with the second and third EU Health Programmes which aim to identify, disseminate and promote the up-take of cost-effective promotion and prevention measures.

The conference offers a meeting place for various projects funded by the second Health Programme, the 7th Research Framework Programme and the Cohesion Policy.


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The general objective of the 7th EPH Conference is to strengthen the capacity of public health professionals, researchers and policy makers by enhancing the dissemination and exchange of knowledge, policy and best practice across Europe.

More specifically, the conference aims to:
- offer a platform for disseminating and exchanging knowledge, sharing research outcomes and discussing best practice at a European level;
-share new research methodologies and interventions in all fields of public health;
- create, support and promote close and active collaboration links among European public health networks, organisations and schools of public health;
-exchange and develop strategies to reduce health inequalities in Europe;
- increase knowledge and skills among representatives of member associations of EUPHA and European partners by the organisation of capacity building seminars;
- support the objectives of the EU Health Programme.

The theme for the 7th EPH Conference is ‘Mind the Gap - reducing health inequalities in health and healthcare in Europe’.

This theme was chosen so as to encourage exchange of knowledge and to promote discussion on how European countries cannot just promote the health of the public but also have to reduce inequalities in health and healthcare. Understanding the causes underlying inequities in health and discovering which interventions or policies may reduce inequalities, and under what circumstances, are critical for the promotion of population health for all countries. The current economic circumstances in many countries mean that it is more important than ever for researchers and policy makers to learn from the experiences of each other rather than ‘reinventing the wheel’.

The focus on inequalities in health, and the desire to ensure that the Conference moves research beyond traditional academic boundaries and into policy and practice in line with the Rio Declaration on Social Determinants of Health, is clearly reflected in the sub-themes which include:
1. Inequalities in the population: large scale interventions;
2. Equity across the European region: the European action plan for strengthening Public Health Services and Capacity;
3. Communicable and non-communicable diseases: old challenges, novel solutions;
4. Marginalised groups: migrant and ethnic minority health;
5. Looking to the future: translating evidence into policy.

EUPHA Sections and partner organisations cover priority issues such as health promotion, non-communicable diseases, health systems research, infectious diseases control, public health core competences and education in pre-conferences and in the parallel programme.

Both the plenary programme and the workshops of the parallel programme link up with the Health for Growth programme which aims to identify, disseminate and promote the uptake of cost-effective promotion and prevention measures. The conference offers a meeting place for various projects funded by the EU Health Programme, Research Programme and Cohesion Policy.

The conference contributes directly to increased knowledge and skills among representatives of member associations of EUPHA and European partners by the organisation of capacity building seminars. The conference continues to provide knowledge for evidence-based policy making while focusing on issues like innovation, sustainability and inequalities.






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The project will:
contribute to the reduction of health inequalities affecting the Roma community in Europe; obtain reliable and objective data about the social/health situation of the Roma population and the use made of healthcare resources available for the mainstream society;
identify factors considered vital in improving the Roma situation and promote equity;
promote synergies between public/private sphere (health centres, hospitals, social organisations, public administrations, etc.).
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