Dear Global Health & Migration Community Members (Global Health Hub Germany),

Please join our first regular community meeting of 2025 on January 15 at 15:00 (Berlin time) via BigBlueButton:

https://webinare.e-collaboration.eu/b/rooms/quy-4tp-alp-s0p/join

PW: nw6jwp

Agenda

• will be updated

Best regards,

Sonu & Henna

for the Global Health and Migration Community, GHHG

Join us on  for a critical discussion on global health strategies centered around migrants and refugees. This webinar will explore the findings from our recent Policy Brief, titled "Prioritising Migrants and Refugees in the Global Health Discourse." The brief, developed by the Global Health Hub Germany’s Community of Practice on Global Health and Migration, emphasizes the urgent need to address the unique health challenges faced by these vulnerable populations.

The session will cover key topics including:

• Limited access to healthcare for migrants and refugees
• Increased vulnerability to infectious diseases
• The impact of climate change on migration patterns

We will discuss strategic recommendations from the Policy Brief, such as raising awareness of the social determinants of migrants' health, integrating their needs into the One Health approach, and fostering cross-sectoral collaboration to drive change.

These insights are pivotal for shaping inclusive, effective global health policies. We highly encourage your participation to help promote equitable healthcare for all.

Please save the date and confirm your availability. We look forward to your valuable contributions to this important discussion.

Register here: Registration | Webinar: Advancing Global Health – Prioritising Migrants and Refugees in Policy and Practice

For further details, please contact:

Sonu Bhaskar and Henna Riemenschneider or the Hub Management Team at info@globalhealthhub.de

On 16 January 2025, the World Health Organization will launch its Health Emergency Appeal for 2025. The event is being live-streamed from this page and on WHO’s social media channels, including on Facebook, Instagram, and X.

LIVE STREAM

The event can be watched live on 16 January 2025 at 15:00–16:00 CET (Geneva time). The recording will be available in the sidebar listing.

The world is at a tipping point. Conflict, climate change, epidemics, and displacement are converging to create an unprecedented global health crisis. Across the globe, 305 million people are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance – a staggering reality that reflects the unrelenting pressure on communities and health systems worldwide.

The 2025 Health Emergency Appeal (HEA) identifies the critical priorities and resources required to address 42 ongoing health emergencies, including 17 Grade 3 crises – the most severe. These emergencies demand a coordinated, well-resourced global response to save lives, protect health, and restore hope to communities on the brink of collapse.

Health is at the heart of every emergency response. From delivering life-saving care and essential medicines to conducting disease surveillance and supporting local health systems, WHO is leading efforts to safeguard the lives of the most vulnerable in the most challenging circumstances. Yet, as needs soar, the gap between resources and realities continues to widen.

This coming 2025 – amidst political turmoil and concerning geopolitical scenarios – prospects to be a challenging year for civil society organizations worldwide. To ensure that health-related human rights are not overlooked neither at the international negotiating tables nor at the local level, civil society must engage in constant and persistent advocacy and use its boldest voice in every forum.

Ahead of the 156^th session of the WHO Executive Board, this series of G2H2 policy debates offers a platform for civil society to remind everyone what are the “matters that matter” to us and why particular attention should be given to them. Spanning from the assessment of “hot” topics to be addressed at the upcoming Executive Board, to a detailed analysis of other burning technical or political matters that have been left out, each session will feature selected speakers which will guide us into an enriching discussion.

Check out this link below for detailed information on the webinars: https://g2h2.org/posts/january2025/

The 20th meeting of the Health in Eastern Europe & Central Asia Working Group is scheduled for 21 January 2024, 10–11 am (CET).

This session will feature the Medical Procurement Workshop by the Ukraine State Enterprise “Medical Procurement of Ukraine” (MPU).

About MPU:
The State Enterprise “Medical Procurement of Ukraine” (MPU) is the nation’s only authorized agency for the centralized procurement of high-quality medicines and medical devices funded by the state. Operating under the direction of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, MPU manages state-funded programs, ensuring efficient procurement processes and the timely delivery of essential medical products.

Workshop Overview:
This workshop aims to deliver valuable insights and detailed guidance on participating in MPU’s procurement activities. Key topics will include stringent anti-bribery measand an in-depth exploration of Ukrainian procurement legislation. By addressing these critical areas, the workshop seeks to promote fair competition and uphold ethical business practices, fostering a transparent and equitable procurement environment.

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain a comprehensive understanding of MPU’s procurement processes and learn how to navigate the legal and ethical framework of Ukrainian medical procurement effectively.

The first hearing on 22 January 2025, "Confronting the Silent Epidemic: Tackling Noncommunicable Diseases Together," will kick off a series of discussions for the Second European Programme of Work (EPW2) 2026-2030. This series will focus on key health challenges across the WHO European Region, each tackling an urgent issue. The launch of this series is a major step in the development of EPW2, which aims to articulate a shared vision for health and well-being in the Region, developed in close partnership with Member States, in line with their priorities for the future. Ultimately, EPW2 will be a collective resource to inform national and regional health agendas. It will also define WHO’s programmatic contribution to advancing this vision in line with the Fourteenth General Programme of Work (GPW 14), bridging Member States’ aspirations with WHO’s operational mandate. The NCD hearing will set the stage for the discussions to follow, bringing together a variety of perspectives to ensure that EPW2 addresses the health needs of today and prepares for future challenges.

Following a high-level opening segment for the series of hearings as a whole, this hearing will focus on the growing burden of NCDs, their impact on health systems, and the urgent need for action. Diseases like cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases make up 90% of deaths and 85% of years lived with disability in the region. Despite being largely preventable or treatable, these diseases continue to cause premature deaths, especially in Eastern Europe, where the risk of dying from cardiovascular diseases is nearly five times higher than in Western Europe.

At the hearing, experts will present updates from the European Progress Report on NCDs, showing how the region is progressing toward global health targets. We’ll explore the links between NCDs, mental health, and global challenges like climate change and health security. With lightning talks, personal stories, and interactive breakout sessions, the hearing will dig into the health challenges we face and discuss ways to take action. It will be a chance to share ideas and work together toward achieving the SDG targets on NCDs and mental health. This event marks a key moment in our journey to build healthier, more resilient communities and health systems across the region.

Key questions for the discussion will include: Why have we made so little progress on NCD targets, and how can we speed up action to reduce premature deaths? How do NCDs and mental health connect with inequity, and how do these challenges relate to climate change, the influence of industries, and global crises? How can countries, cities, communities, and WHO collaborate to tackle NCDs and mental health with bold, innovative actions while strengthening health systems for better outcomes?

Zum Thema

Der Europäische Gesundheitsdatenraum (European Health Data Space, EHDS) soll nationale Gesundheitssysteme durch einen sicheren und effizienten Austausch von Gesundheitsdaten stärker miteinander verknüpfen. Ziel ist es, Forschung und Infrastruktur der jeweiligen Gesundheitssysteme zu verbessern.

Wie bei anderen europäischen Gesetzentwürfen, etwa dem „Data Act“ oder „Artificial Intelligence Act“, spielen auch beim EHDS Medizinprodukte als Bestandteil der künftigen Datenlieferungsarchitektur eine sehr wichtige Rolle. Die Erhebung und Nutzung von Daten hat für die Prävention von Erkrankungen sowie die Gesundheitsversorgung eine hohe Bedeutung.

Hieraus ergeben sich vielfältige Fragen:

• Wie ist die primäre und sekundäre Datennutzung vor dem Hintergrund des EHDS geregelt?
• Welche Anforderungen kommen auf die MedTech-Branche zu?
• Welche Potenziale können für MedTech-Unternehmen sowohl auf nationaler als auch auf europäischer Ebene entstehen?
• Wie sieht die Umsetzung auf nationaler Ebene aus?

Zielgruppe

Angesprochen sind Beschäftigte der Medizinprodukteindustrie, die Produkte entwickeln sowie regulatorisch begleiten.

Ziele

Das Webinar gibt einen Überblick über die Vorgaben des EHDS sowie einen Ausblick darauf, was auf die MedTech-Branche im Rahmen der Umsetzung zukommen wird.

Referentin

• Elisabeth Kohoutek
  Partnerin, Rechtsanwältin
  Luther Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH | Frankfurt

Moderation

• Natalie Gladkov
  Leiterin Referat Digitale Medizinprodukte
  Bundesverband Medizintechnologie e. V. (BVMed) | Berlin

Wednesday, 22 January 2025 | Start: 03:00 PM | End: 04:30 PM  

Location: Online

We are pleased to invite you to the kick-off webinar for the Global Health Hub Germany’s 2025 annual theme: "Global Health in Conflict Settings."

This webinar will serve as the starting point for consolidating a dedicated working group on this pressing topic. Building on the poster session at the Global Health Talk 2024, we aim to bring together experts and practitioners to form an interdisciplinary working group.

The session will provide the opportunity to discuss key ideas, share insights, and define the next steps for collaborative activities within the working group.

We look forward to your participation in this foundational meeting and to your contributions to advancing the dialogue on global health in conflict settings.

Please registere here for the Webinar: Registration | Kick-Off Webinar of the Global Health Hub Germany's Annual Theme "Global Health in Conflict Settings"

For further questions, please contact the Hub Management Team at info@globalhealthhub.de

The rapid digital transformation of health systems globally has brought about significant shifts in how health determinants operate in a digital ecosystem. Digital determinants of health, as highlighted in recent studies by WHO and the London School of Economics (LSE), represent a critical evolution in understanding health outcomes in the 21st century. These determinants include a wide array of factors, such as internet access, digital literacy, algorithmic validation, and data governance, all of which are shaping health outcomes in nuanced and complex ways. Key findings in the report underline the urgency of addressing inequities in digital access and literacy, with particular emphasis on vulnerable populations such as older adults, individuals with disabilities, and those in low-income settings. The report also highlights the disruptive potential of digital technologies, including algorithmic biases, dark commercial patterns, and the spread of misinformation, which can amplify health disparities if not adequately managed. This webinar seeks to unravel the complexity of digital determinants of health and their implications for health systems and policy-making. As part of the ongoing webinar series, Decoding Data and Digital Health, this session aims to provide stakeholders with actionable insights into addressing the digital challenges and opportunities within health systems.

The WHO European Region is facing a major demographic shift, with the number of older people growing rapidly. In 2024, for the first time in history, there will be more people aged 65 and older than children and adolescents under 16. The fastest-growing age group is those aged 80 and above, with women outnumbering men two to one in this group. By 2050, the number of people over 65 will double, and those over 80 will triple, with a greater number of older women than men. While an ageing population brings challenges, the real concern is the rising number of people living with chronic conditions and disabilities in later life. One in three adults lives with a chronic condition and rising to one in three older adults aged 65 and above with two or more conditions. This significantly strains health and care systems. Additionally, the health and care workforce are also ageing, with many workers nearing retirement and not enough younger professionals being trained to replace them. By 2050, the working-age population will be much smaller compared to the growing older population, which will put immense pressure on public welfare systems. To face these challenges, we need a fresh approach to healthy ageing, focused on prevention, better care models, and making sure people can stay healthy and active later in life.

The hearing will dive into how demographic shifts, particularly the ageing population, are reshaping health systems in the WHO European Region. We’ll explore the challenges these shifts create, such as the rise in chronic diseases, multi-morbidity, and the need for more trained health professionals. Keynote speakers will discuss the societal and economic changes needed to support healthy, productive ageing, and a panel of experts from across Europe will share their perspectives on tackling these issues. We’ll also hear from civil society, the health workforce, and academia to better understand the solutions needed. The session will include interactive discussions on practical strategies for promoting healthy ageing, such as improving health services, addressing health worker shortages, and fostering better community support systems. By the end of the hearing, we aim to have clear, actionable strategies to help build a more resilient and inclusive health system for an ageing population.

The main questions for this hearing will focus on how to address the challenges posed by an ageing population: How can we ensure our health systems can cope with the increasing number of older people living with chronic conditions? What strategies are needed to address workforce shortages and ensure health and care systems are prepared for the future? How can we ensure that everyone, regardless of age, economic status, or background, has access to the care and support they need to stay healthy as they age? What role should WHO, Member States, and other partners play in preparing for these demographic changes over the next five years?