For the second year in a row, the annual session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe will be held virtually due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. 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 meet virtually to discuss current health issues and set the direction for future activities.
This 71st session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe (RC71) will converge around delivering the WHO European Programmed Work 2020–2025 (EPW) – “United Action for Better Health in Europe”, which was adopted last year. More specifically, Member States will be invited to:
- endorse the official launch of the EPW flagships, the European Immunization Agenda 2030 and the Mental Health Coalition; draw lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of emergency preparedness and response;
- consider opportunities to reorient health systems, reinvent primary health care and rethink health priorities in the post-COVID-19 era and in the light of future pandemics;
- strengthen WHO politically, technically and financially, making WHO/Europe fit for purpose, and optimizing its impact at country level.
The official program of RC71 will run for 3 days on 13–15 September 2021. Real-time coverage will be shared on WHO/Europe’s social media channels using #RC71CPH. Emphasis will be placed on supporting interactive discussions and ensuring a healthy meeting environment.
Briefings and side events
A series of additional briefings and side events will be held on 16–17 September 2021, to facilitate further reflections and discussions on a range of other health issues, including:
- the health and social care workforce
- climate change and health
- access to affordable medicines
- health literacy
- alcohol policies
- health in prisons
- the Small Countries Initiative
- work by the geographically dispersed offices and technical centres in the WHO European Region.