WHO/Europe monthly newsletter, with public health news and events highlights from around the WHO European Region.
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Public health news from around the WHO European Region.
News highlights
January 2026
On a rather chilly Danish morning, 5-year-old Viggo crouches beside a park bench, peering at a bicycle chain. “How does it move?” he asks his grandfather, Flemming, 76, who patiently starts to explain how the gears fit together.
For Katrine, Viggo’s mother and a paediatric surgeon, moments like this – 3 generations bound together by closeness and joint activities – are reminders of what truly matters in life. “Viggo starts school next year,” she says. “He’s highly focused on how things work. He likes to take things apart and figure them out. My dad is still working and plans to continue to work for a while longer just because he enjoys it, but he’s extremely involved in our lives, and as a single mom, I think it’s important for Viggo to have that – and really beneficial for my father as well.” Read more
TOP STORIES
13 January 2026
As the full-scale invasion of Ukraine enters its fifth year, come February 2026, health-care facilities in the regions of Chernihiv, Kherson, Odesa, Mykolaiv and Sumy continue to operate under extreme pressure.
Last December, the WHO Country Office in Ukraine, with financial support from the European Union (EU) Directorate-General for Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood, delivered critical medical equipment to hospitals in those frontline regions – equipment that helps save lives every day and ensures continuity of health-care services.
Without this equipment, worth US$ 800 000, safe and timely management of trauma patients would be impossible. Read more
19 January 2026
This consultation will convene senior health systems experts and leaders in the WHO European Region to gather their insights, priorities, practical experiences and advice on the enablers, challenges and opportunities to drive climate-health action in the health sector. Read more
24 December 2025
In 2025 countries across the WHO European Region continued to face overlapping health threats from multiple health emergencies, including armed conflict, infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and climate-driven events. Read more
COVID-19 still causes severe disease, but up-to-date vaccines are effective, new research shows
31-12-2025
WHO and EU strengthen heating and water infrastructure in Ukrainian hospitals
10-12-2025
24 December 2025
During the holiday season, celebrations often involve increased alcohol consumption, which can raise the risk of injuries – including road injuries, falls, burns, poisonings and interpersonal violence. Read more
New WHO collaborating centre to strengthen immunization policy-making
across Europe
13-01-2026
Leishmaniasis research advances at new WHO Collaborating Centre in Spain
22-12-2025
New WHO/Europe briefs show how countries are improving affordable access to health care
18-12-2025
How much harm do you need to experience to rethink drinking alcohol? Stories from Europe
12-12-2025
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COUNTRIES
16 January 2026
Lithuania has introduced an excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), effective from 1 January 2026, marking a major step towards preventing avoidable disease and premature deaths linked to excess sugar consumption.
This means Lithuania joins a growing number of countries using fiscal policies to encourage healthier consumption patterns among their populations. Read more
“Being a nurse is more than a job”
23-12-2025
Uzbekistan celebrates World Health Day with public mural on maternal health
22-12-2025
Rehabilitation and support for Ukrainian refugees in the Republic of Moldova
18-12-2025
WHO supports Albania and Montenegro in gradually eliminating mercury-containing medical devices
16-12-2025
Lithuania supports premature newborn health with policies that invest in families
15-12-2025
Georgia’s new model for assistive technology offers life-changing devices
15-12-2025
At the front line of health: Armine’s 35 years of service in Armenia’s Lori
15-12-2025
Governments in Central Asia chart strategy to strengthen nursing and midwifery
11-12-2025
10 – 12 March 2026 | Belgrade, Serbia
WHO/Europe is hosting a workshop on wastewater and environmental surveillance (WES) for public health for western Balkan countries. Taking place in Belgrade from 10–12 March 2026, the workshop will address senior technical experts from the health and environment sectors from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia. Read more
