Event highlights
2 April 2024
The many faces of innovation for public health
Artificial intelligence (AI), incubators, ecosystems for change, democratizing data-driven medicine… these are just some of the terms that emerged in lively discussions at the meeting “Building a public health innovation ecosystem in the WHO European Region” held in Copenhagen on 11–12 March.
Representatives from 36 countries, technical experts, and start-up hubs came together to discuss and exchange ideas and experiences on how innovation can contribute to public health. Extracts from some of the participants follow below, giving a flavour of the richness of the presentations and debates and the many variations of what we perceive as innovation for public health.
Bringing health services directly to patients
“In the diabetes sector, digitalization is the tool where innovation meets patient needs,” said Dr Peter Schwarz, President-Elect of the International Diabetes Federation. “Using digitalization in the form of a smartphone-based app, we are in the pocket of our patient. We never have been so close to our patient than being in the pocket. If we now think about how we can use this to have an impact on lifestyle, self-management, and diabetes care for the patient, then innovation meets public health.”
Individuals with lived experience of disease can shape innovative solutions
“In my view, it’s crucial, if innovation is to be impactful, effective and sustainable, that we include the end user in the process,” said patient advocate Cajsa Lindberg, a cancer survivor living with diabetes and panhypopituitarism, and Senior Consultant at Business Sweden. “In this case – the patient, the person with the lived experience – this is the person that sits on the knowledge of what it’s actually like to live with a medical condition, to navigate life, to navigate society, to navigate the health-care system. And we need to use that expertise. It’s different from the expertise of other people at the table, but it’s no less valuable. It’s actually what makes a difference to whether an innovative solution is actually effective, is urgent, is impactful, and sustainable.”
Youth as a key contributor
“The role of youth is especially important because youth are innovators and contribute to public health systems,” said Katja Cic from the International Youth Health Organization, Slovenia. “But at the same time, we also need innovation within public health in order to be able to respond to young people’s needs, and the changes in the world, because the young generations are living in a very different world than their older counterparts. So we need that to drive health promotion, prevention and so on.”
Focusing on the purpose
“Innovation is not an end; it’s a means to an end,” noted Petro Terblanche from Afrigen Biologics. “Purpose-driven innovation that’s inclusive and involves the end user, the last mile, working backwards to solutions with many parties coming together, will have the biggest impact.”
How we live our health
“Innovation in public health is basically about humans. It’s about how humans live their health,” said Ilona Kickbush from the Global Health Centre at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva. “And too frequently, at this point, we think of innovation in public health as something digital, something technological, something medical, something scientific. It’s about how people live, love, work and play and what kinds of innovations we need to support a healthy environment and address the determinants of health.”
Registering births to leave no one behind
“We launched an information system for birth registration in our country,” said Bakyt Dzhangaziev, Deputy Minister of Health, Kyrgyzstan. “And then we compared our data with data from servers, and we saw that approximately 5–7% of newborns don’t have birth registration. These children are invisible to the state. And they don’t have adequate access to guaranteed state services, like medical services, education and social support. So, using the approach “Leaving no one behind”, we are closely working with these children and actually documented them.”
What’s next?
The discussions at the meeting showcased the diverse array of perspectives and approaches towards leveraging innovation for public health. The discussions have laid the groundwork for developing a robust WHO European regional strategy for harnessing health innovation, which will be presented at the 75th Session of the Regional Committee in 2025.
As we move forward, it is essential to remember that innovation in public health is not just about technology or science; it is fundamentally about people and their well-being. Purpose-driven innovation that is inclusive, involving end-users and stakeholders at every step, holds the key to making a significant impact. By continuing to prioritize the needs of diverse populations, including vulnerable groups, such as youth and unregistered newborns, we can ensure that no one is left behind in our pursuit of a healthier future. Collaboration, creativity, and a deep understanding of human experiences will be vital as we navigate the evolving landscape of public health innovation.
Event notice
11 March 2024
The WHO European Region is facing complex health challenges that require innovative and transformative approaches to meet the needs of the population. This need for thinking out of the box, and championing opportunities for innovation and technological advancements, is the backdrop of the WHO/Europe Innovation Ecosystem for Public Health meeting to be held in Copenhagen on 11–12 March. The event serves as a platform for stakeholders to collectively address pressing public health challenges through innovative approaches and emerging technologies. It presents a unique opportunity to inspire the innovation ecosystem community, including innovation centres and hubs, to collaborate with WHO and tackle the complex challenges facing the Region.
The event is by invitation only. It will bring together decision-makers, public health experts, tech visionaries, and passionate individuals to tackle pressing health challenges with cutting-edge tools.
Bringing innovations to the WHO European Region: why now?
The challenges facing the Region are formidable: rising noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), vaccine hesitancy, antimicrobial resistance, and climate-driven threats, such as vector-borne infections, are only a few of them.
But amidst these concerns is a new space for innovations that can take Member States’ health systems to the next level of sustainability and efficiency. The global market for artificial intelligence (AI) alone is predicted to skyrocket to US$ 1.35 trillion by 2030, while genomics and digital health solutions hold immense potential for tackling epidemics, optimizing patient care, and preventing NCDs that account for 90% of all deaths across the Region.
Regional consultation: what’s on the agenda?
At the event, participants will be able to:
- showcase real-world case studies, highlighting successful health innovation initiatives. These case studies will cover a range of specific innovations and emerging technologies, such as AI-driven predictive models for NCDs, optimization of patient care, and innovative public health policies;
- explore the discovery and development of new vaccines and drugs using advanced techniques, such as mRNA technology, CRISPR, and synthetic biology;
- develop a workshop, aimed at exploring innovative approaches to solving specific complex health challenges faced in the Region; and
- engage in policy discussions on the implications of health innovations, inviting policy experts and government representatives to explore how innovations can be integrated into public health policy.
The WHO/Europe Innovation Ecosystem for Public Health meeting not only offers solutions; it fosters a collective spirit of innovation. Workshops will enable participants to collaborate, brainstorm inventive solutions, and create practical implementation plans. Policy experts and government representatives will join the conversation, ensuring future policy action across the Region and beyond.
