Health ministers and high-level representatives of the 53 Member States of the WHO European Region as well as partner organizations and civil society are taking part in the 68th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe in Rome, Italy, on 17–20 September 2018. During this meeting several actors were able to present Joint Statements raising the need to focus and enhance the efforts on several topics
Statement on Vaccine-preventable diseases and immunization: leaving no one behind
According to the Regional Office for Europe of the WHO, vaccine-preventable diseases like measles have hit a record high in the region. More than 41,000 people have been infected in the first six months of 2018, leading to 37 deaths due to measles. With any vaccine-preventable disease, one case is one too many.
Statement on Prevent overdiagnosis in health care and overmedicalisation of society
The organizations supporting this statement welcome the document EUR/RC68/17 on advancing public health for sustainable development in the WHO European Region. In particular, we wish to acknowledge the focus on noncommunicable diseases, the promotion of a culture on health and well-being, the employment of cost-effective preventive interventions, and the call for support of institutional capacities for the generation of evidence.