Ivo Rakovac

Please join us for this important online event and contribute to discussions how we shape future of Health Promotion (in its true sense, well beyond increasing health literacy) in Europe and beyond.

Health security threats are becoming more frequent and more complex - their scale and pace demand rapid detection and response. To make that happen, Dr Pamela Rendi-Wagner, Director of ECDC, and I signed a new Memorandum of Understanding today in Stockholm 🇸🇪 - setting out how WHO/Europe and ECDC will work together on joint missions, scientific advice, surveillance and data exchange. Our day-to-day work shows why this matters. From July to December 2025, WHO/Europe analysed 110,000+ pieces of information, identifying 35 significant risks and 56 public health events, including mpox outbreaks and attacks on health care. Daily exchanges of epidemic intelligence between WHO/Europe and ECDC played a crucial role in these efforts. This partnership is about giving countries in the European Region the best possible support - timely information, practical tools, and coordinated action to stop outbreaks before they spread and save lives. #HealthForAll

When governments act early on #tobacco and #alcohol, they prevent disease, save lives and protect the next generation – Belgium is moving in that direction. In my meeting with 🇧🇪 Deputy PM and Social Affairs & Public Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke, I commended his leadership in reducing youth exposure to nicotine products and strengthening alcohol policies. We explored how #Belgium, with like-minded partners, can keep building momentum to strengthen tobacco and alcohol policies, with @WHO_Europe supporting through a neutral platform for dialogue. We agreed on the importance of taking a systematic, evidence-based approach in both areas. This meeting also gave us an opportunity to discuss our 2026 partnership priorities and activities, and the need for an earmarked #health budget in the next #EU Multiannual Financial Framework. #HealthForAll

The world needs the United Nations, but right now the United Nations needs the world too. Today, I stressed in my speech that my main priority for the next 237 days as President of the General Assembly is to defend the United Nations, its Charter, and the principles enshrined in it. To preserve the UN and save multilateralism, we need to be decisive, principled, and #BetterTogether.

Ahead of the Safe Hearts Plan next week, I joined @EUCVHAlliance today. Prevention will be key, which means knowing your numbers, having coordinated EU health checks in place, offering evidence-based food information systems, & providing state-of-the-art personalised treatment.

DG SANTE at the @WHO_Europe #RC75CPH: The fight against non-communicable diseases continues: with the upcoming ambitious European Cardiovascular Plan. It will provide impetus to WHO seminal NCD efforts in its Second Program of Work and its new Child & Adolescent Health Strategy.

Adopted! With the approval of Member States, the second European Programme of Work - #EPW2 – is now official. Developed through a year-long process of co-creation with countries and partners, EPW2 is both a vision and a roadmap - designed to keep @WHO_Europe focused, accountable, and ready for the future. It sets out 5️⃣ priorities: 🔹strengthening health security 🔹preventing and controlling noncommunicable diseases 🔹supporting healthy ageing 🔹tackling the climate–health crisis 🔹shaping the health systems of the future And 2️⃣ special initiatives that cut across all priorities: 🔹primary health care, and 🔹response to violence against women and girls My deepest thanks to our 53 Member States, focal points, and partners for shaping and adopting this historic framework. With the renewed mandate, we will ensure that WHO/Europe remains your partner of choice — trusted, focused, responsive, and results-driven. To read more about #EPW2: bit.ly/3CYBM5F #HealthForAll #UnitedActionForBetterHealth

💓Effective #hypertension treatment saves lives! Ensure access to affordable medication, team-based care in primary care, and standardized treatment protocols. Uncontrolled hypertension is a leading risk factor for heart attack, stroke, chronic kidney disease and dementia. More in the global hypertension report: who.int/publications/i… #WorldStrokeDay

#Stroke symptoms can happen suddenly. Remember F.A.S.T. F ace weakness: drooping on one side :/ A rm weakness: difficulty lifting one arm 💪 S peech problems: slurred or confused speech 🗣️ T ime to call for help 📞🚨 #WorldStrokeDay

Grateful to our partners for a powerful panel discussion at #RC75CPH following the launch of the Call to Action under @WHO_Europe’s special initiative on violence against women & girls. High-level representatives from 🇦🇹 Austria, 🇭🇷 Croatia, 🇮🇸 Iceland, 🇪🇸 Spain, 🇹🇯 Tajikistan, @EU_Commission, @unwomeneca & @unfpaeecaro reaffirmed: 🩺 Health care must be part of the solution. For that, health systems need to be better prepared and empowered to play their part effectively. Thank you for your leadership and readiness to act together. Learn more about the special initiative 👉 bit.ly/3WYOKqv #HealthForAll

The WHO Regional Committee meets in Copenhagen today at a pivotal moment — shaping the role of the Regional Office in Europe and beyond at a time of challenges to global health. We stand ready to support @WHO on this important journey. Deep gratitude for Hans Kluge’s leadership.

Acute and chronic viral infections, including Herpes Zoster (Shingles), Hepatitis C, HIV, CMV, influenza, and SARS-CoV-2, are linked with a substantial increased risk of cardiovascular events, from a systematic review. Figure for SARS-CoV-2 below newsroom.heart.org/news/some-acut…

Health leaders from the WHO European Region are gathering in Copenhagen 🇩🇰 – at UN City, from 28 to 30 October, for the 75th session of our Regional Committee - #RC75CPH. #RC75CPH is our Region’s annual decision-making meeting, bringing together health ministers and high-level delegates from all 53 Member States to set priorities, adopt decisions, and commit resources to improve people’s health. This year’s session is a defining moment for our Region, as Member States are expected to adopt the Second European Programme of Work (EPW2) - our health compass for next five years and beyond. #EPW2 focuses on strengthening health security, preventing and controlling noncommunicable diseases, supporting healthy ageing, tackling the climate–health crisis, and shaping the health systems of the future – powered by two special initiatives on primary health care and ending violence against women and girls. And that’s not all. We’ll also launch new regional strategies – from promoting child and adolescent health to harnessing innovation for public health – and deepen partnerships to deliver tangible results, even amid geopolitical and financial challenges facing global health today. Stay tuned and follow me and @WHO_Europe for live updates and insights from #RC75CPH. For more information >> bit.ly/3J17zWV #HealthForAll

🤔 Have you heard common myths spread by health-harming industries, such as “NCD policies are anti-business”? 🤓 We have — and we decided to #ActOnNCDs and debunk the most widespread misconceptions about NCD policies and address industry propaganda targeting policymakers. 💡 Explore our myth buster 👉pulse.ly/ziqpkdoh5u

1/4 #MFF New #MFF and full health package (by end-2025) will deliver for health, innovation & safety: 🔹 €22.6B via #ECF for health 🔹 First recognition of comparable risks from new tobacco products 🔹 Funding kept for cross-border animal disease control

2/4 #MFF €22.6B #ECF to 🔸 Create a new EU pharma, biotech & medtech ecosystem 🔸 Fight NCDs 🔸 Strengthen supply chains & future-proof health systems 🔸 Bring new therapies like personalised prevention & medicines to patients faster

3/4 #MFF For the first time ever, we acknowledge that new #tobacco and nicotine products pose health risks comparable to traditional ones. With new market developments and the need to protect future generations, rates should be further assessed.

My statement on the next #MFF ⤵️

WHO/Europe and the EU will keep working side by side to confront public health challenges head-on - ensuring #health stays above politics and serves everyone, everywhere. In my recent exchange with EU Commissioner @OliverVarhelyi, we agreed to   🔹strengthen mental health support, including addressing the impact of social media 🔹advance tobacco control, with a focus on the harms of vaping 🔹promote practical tools to prevent cardiovascular diseases. The situation in #Gaza and #Israel was another important area of discussion. We both underlined the need to increase medical evacuations for those who urgently need treatment outside Gaza, and to strengthen mental health support for all affected by the conflict since October 2023. #HealthForAll

Good data = good policies. Last week in Uzbekistan🇺🇿, we explored using #HealthData for policymaking in 5 Central Asian countries. The training, co-funded by @EU_Health, covered: 📊Data sources & quality ✅Frameworks & indicators 💻Advanced analytics 📑Health reports