40 Years of the Ottawa Charter – Time for a Fresh Start!

On April 29–30, 2026, researchers from the State Institution «Marzieiev Institute for Public Health of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine» participated in a two-day virtual WHO event to rethink approaches to health, titled “Rebooting health promotion: Marking 40 Years of the Ottawa Charter in the WHO European Region.”

The Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion (1986) transformed the approach to medicine, shifting from the exclusive treatment of diseases to strategies for creating conditions for healthy living.

Its principles are based on the understanding that health depends not only on medical care but also on social and environmental factors: a stable ecosystem, sustainable use of resources, education, and social justice.

The event was attended by over 800 participants, including leading scientists, practitioners, policymakers, health ministers from European countries, as well as representatives of civil society organizations, health advocates, and international partners.

The event featured high-level expert group meetings, discussions with leading experts, and interactive small-group discussions.

During the discussions, participants explored how a health-promoting approach can help address current challenges and how it will contribute to the development of the next WHO European Regional Strategy on Noncommunicable Diseases.

Together with colleagues from across Europe, we continue to work on the future of preventive medicine. Participating in the WHO event is not just a professional experience; it is a contribution to building strategies that will help make health a priority for every community. Discussing contemporary social, environmental, and digital determinants of health is critically important to our work.

Over these two days, we exchanged experiences, discussed best practices, and drew inspiration for our daily work.

It is important to be where strategic decisions are made for the health of millions of people and to use the best practices to develop and improve Ukraine’s public health system!

(date of publication on the website: 03.05.2026)