Event highlights
June 13, 2024
The webinar, hosted by the WHO/Europe Behavioural and Cultural Insights (BCI) Unit, introduced a new policy brief to measure and maximise public support for health policies.
The event, held virtually on 5 June 2024, was attended by around 90 participants, including health experts, academics and public health officials from across the WHO European Region. Opening remarks were delivered by Rob Butler, Director of the Department of Infectious Diseases, Environment and Health at WHO Europe. He stressed the importance of using insights and methods from behavioural science to understand the needs of the population and bridge the gap between effective health policies and policies that resonate with the public.
James Reynolds, consultant with the WHO/Europe BCI Unit and lead author of the brief, presented tools and considerations for increasing public support for evidence-based health policies, drawing on a new BCI policy brief. He highlighted three key considerations: 1) why public support is important for health policies, 2) how to effectively measure public support, and 3) how to maximize public support through a five-step process.
Case studies were shared by public health experts and representatives from WHO/Europe, and public health authorities in Kazakhstan, Lithuania and Wales. The cases spanned a range of policy areas, from alcohol and nutrition to road safety, and demonstrated how public support or opposition can significantly influence policy implementation.
The webinar concluded with a “Meet the Expert” session, where participants were able to ask questions and share their thoughts.
The WHO BCI policy brief is available online in English.
If you have any questions or comments regarding the webinar, please contact euinsights@who.int. A recording of the event is available upon request.
Event Announcement
June 5, 2024
The WHO/European Behavioural and Cultural Insights (BCI) Unit will host a webinar to launch a new policy brief on measuring and maximising public support for health policies. The launch event will take place on 5 June from 10:30-11:45 am CET (virtual).
background
Health policies have great power to encourage or restrict important health behaviors, such as smoking in public, eating and exercising in schools, and uptake of vaccinations and screening services. Public support for evidence-based health policies is essential; it affects the likelihood that a policy will be introduced, that it will be sustained and fully enforced, and the policy’s success. BCI provides tools to explore public support, how to measure support, and how to maximize support for effective evidence-based health policies.
Event details
During the webinar, experts and policymakers will explore tools and practical considerations for measuring and maximizing public support. The event will also feature examples from Member States where public support (or opposition) played a key role in supporting or hindering the introduction of health policies.
The main objectives of the event are:
It will explore opportunities to include public voices and perspectives in policy design and implementation, identify challenges and how they can be overcome, highlight inspiring initiatives, examples and tools to increase public participation in health policy design and implementation, and facilitate exchange of views on opportunities to apply the policy brief.
This online event is open to those working in health policy at national, regional and local levels, nationally appointed BCI focal points, experts, practitioners and anyone interested in and affected by policies for improving health.
Please register via this link.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with information about attending the event.
For any questions, please contact euinsights@who.int
