20th Anniversary of the European Public Health Association (EUPHA) and 5th European Public Health Conference, Portomaso, St. Julian's, Malta, November 08-10th 2012.

Abstract

In Malta from 08th to 10th November 2012 were organized 5th Public Health Conference in Europe by the European Public Health Association (EUPHA) and Association of Schools of Public Health (EPHC) in the European Region (ASPHER). During 4 working days at the Conference was presented about 1300 papers by authors from 58 countries from Europe and the World. (Figure ​(Figure11,​,22,​,33). Figure 1 PHC Conference, Malta, 08-10. 11. 2012. – Closing Ceremony. Figure 2 PHC Conference, Malta, 08-10. 11. 2012. – Governing Council meeting. Figure 3 PHC Conference, Malta, 08-10. 11. 2012. – Poster presentation. Abstracts of all presented papers are published in the European Journal of Public Health (Supplement 2, 310 pages). Also, during the Conference was organized the celebration of 20th EUPHA Anniversary. EUPHA EPHC is the largest European event in the field of Public Health and is recognized as a crucial meeting both for researchers and professionals as well as policy makers. During the Conference it was possible to get familiarized with most upto-date information on what is happening in public health sector – research, policy, practice, etc. at the European level. The general goal of EPHC is pursued through several subgoals: capacity and knowledge building in the field of public health, creation of favorable conditions for its dissemination, to be shared and finally to be effectively transferred into practice and policy in all sectors of public health, at all levels and in all countries. One of task was to give priority to a joint approach in order to work in partnership with governmental and nongovernmental organizations as well as institutions working in public health sectors. Plenary sessions were: a) Keynote Address by European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy (John Dalli); b) EAHC (Executive Agency for Health and Consumers) Debate – Translating evidence into practice: polices and funding to improve public health in Europe (Louise J. Gunning-Schepers. David Stuckler, Laura Morlok); c) Technology and Environment: Getting smart with health determinants (Leonard Mizzi, David Strachan, Marc Sprenger); d) Mind, body and spirit – a multifaceted approach to health (Kristina Alexanderson, Roger Ingham); e) The WHO European Action Plan for Strengthening Public Health Services and Capacities (EAP) – implementation pillar of the new WHO European Policy Health 2020 (Zsuzsana Jakab); f) Life choices – population, economic activity and lifestyle (Helmut Brand, Walter Ricciardi, Robert Romasco); g) Research across health – services, sectors and policy (Paul H. Garthwaite, Lukasz Balwicki); h) Small, few or different – inequality in Europe’s health (Gauden Galea, Nesime Salioska). Oral presentations and posters were presented in 124 parallel sessions (on different topics and specialized workshops). During EPHC also was organized celebration of the EUPHA 20th anniversary, Governing Council meeting and Scientific Program Committee meeting, as well as annual meetings of EUPHA work groups. From Bosnia and Herzegovina participants, as representatives of Bosnia and Herzegovina Public Health Association participated professors Izet Masic and Selim Toromanovic (members of Governing Council and Scientific program Committee). We presented three articles: The role of laboratory biochemical diagnostics in rationalization of family practice in primary health care centers (authors: Lejla Zunic, Izet Masic, Selim Toromanovic); The role of social networks in education of health professionals in Bosnia and Herzegovina (authors: Izet Masic, Suad Sivic, Selim Toromanovic, Lejla Zunic) and Quality assessment of education at Faculty of medicine of University of Sarajevo (author: Izet Masic). Conference in Malta, held in famous hotel Hilton was excellently organized and led by Julian Mamo, president of LOC, Dineke Zeegers Paget, EUPHA Executive director, Walter Ricciardi (EUPHA President) and Helmut Brand (ASPHER President) and excellent team from Public Health Association of Malta.