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From the Editors

European Public Health Week 2026 - investing for sustainable health and well-being

In this blog, we highlight books, articles, and collections from across the Springer Nature research community to support European Public Health Week 2026.

Published in Sustainability and Public Health

Go to the profile of Alex Goodridge
Alex Goodridge
Senior Editor, BMC Series
European Public Health Week 2026 - investing for sustainable health and well-being

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European Public Health Week (EUPHW), led by the European Public Health Association (EUPHA), brings people together across Europe to focus on public health. Each year, organisations and individuals take part from across research, policy and practice, including national institutions, universities, local groups and schools. Taken together, these contributions create space for shared learning and reflection, whilst reinforcing the role of public health as a vital foundation for social, economic and democratic well‑being. 

This year’s theme, investing for sustainable health and well-being, is explored by five daily themes, including: 

Aligning all policies with public health
Prioritising equity through public health investments
Mental health at the crossroads: investing across public health, primary health care and communities 
Protecting public health and democracy: tackling disinformation, strengthening accountability, and building trust 
Strengthening and supporting the health workforce 
Daily themes of EUPHW

We hope you enjoy this selection of  contributions from across our publishers, brought together in support of this year’s themes and our ongoing commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals, with particular focus on SDG 3: "Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages." We also encourage you to explore the wider European Public Health Week campaign and learn more about the work of EUPHA, including the events and resources taking place across Europe throughout the week. 

Open Access Books & Chapters 

Several book chapters focus on the systems and policies that shape sustainable public health. Health Data with the European Health Data Space (EHDS), by Kurt Höller and Lisa Walter, and European Union Artificial Intelligence Act (EU AI Act): Implications for Digital Health and Care, by Elke‑Luise Müller and Ute Irene Wiedemann, both examine how data, digital tools and regulation intersect with public health priorities, including accountability, transparency and trust. 

Both chapters are available in Advancements in Digital Health and Care: Empowering Healthcare Through Innovation, Strategies and Ethical Considerations. 

Other chapters explore the practical foundations of effective and equitable public health. Epidemiological Framework: The Role of Surveillance by Enrico Ricchizzi underlines the role of surveillance in prevention and preparedness, while Safer Care: Shaping the Future (Liam Donaldson) highlights the importance of safe systems and sustained investment in the health workforce. Asking Existing Data the Right Questions (Velizar Shivarov) brings a wider equity perspective, showing how better use of existing data can support more sustainable and inclusive public health approaches.  

These chapters can be found in Infections in Surgery, Textbook of Patient Safety and Clinical Risk Management , and Improving Oncology Worldwide respectively. 

Research Publications and Ongoing Studies 

From our journals, articles from BMC reflect key priorities for public health across Europe and beyond. 

Research in BMC Nutrition looks at how cross‑sector collaboration in Norway, involving government, industry, researchers and civil society, can support healthier and more sustainable food systems. A study published in BMC Public Health uses European survey data to show how obesity is driving avoidable hospitalisation across Europe, reinforcing the need for stronger prevention‑focused public health investment. From a global perspective, a widely cited BMC Medicine article examines progress towards cervical cancer elimination, highlighting remaining gaps and the importance of sustained public health action in line with Agenda 2030 goals. 

Further journal articles reflect public health challenges linked to mobility, access and resilience. In BMC Global and Public Health, a study of cross‑border vaccination behaviour highlights how population movement within the EU shapes prevention efforts and calls for better policy coordination. Research published in the International Journal of Health Geographics proposes a practical framework for identifying “medical deserts”, supporting more equitable planning and investment in primary care access. Articles in Conflict and Health and Globalization and Health focus on Ukraine, examining how community‑based psychosocial support and the work of professional health associations contribute to protecting mental health and strengthening health systems under pressure, with broader lessons for public health resilience in crisis settings. 

ISRCTN registry

In addition, BMC’s own clinical trial registry, ISRCTN, reports ongoing studies that address public health challenges across Europe. These include: 

  • The MentBest study, which is testing a community‑based programme to prevent depression and suicide, with a focus on vulnerable groups across several European countries 
  • A study exploring ways to support healthier lifestyles and reduce the risk of chronic disease in underserved urban communities across Europe 
  • A study evaluating new rules in England that limit the marketing of less healthy foods, and assessing how these changes affect health and behaviour

Open Collections 

Our journals are also currently welcoming submissions that align with the themes of EUPHW, including collections on: 

Springer Nature Research Communities  

You can find more blogs and discussion on public health, across Europe and globally, elsewhere on the Springer Nature Research Communities website. The platform brings together posts from researchers and practitioners, and the search function can help you explore related content and ongoing work in the field. 

Go to the profile of Alex Goodridge
Alex Goodridge (He/Him)
Senior Editor, BMC Series

I am a Senior Editor in the BMC Series at Springer Nature, and Lead Editor for BMC Primary Care and BMC Oral Health. My work focuses on open access publishing, research integrity, and strengthening reproducibility in health research through transparency, robust reporting, and data sharing. I also contribute to Springer Nature’s SDG 3 working groups, supporting and advancing research that addresses global health and wellbeing.

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