S17 - Securing Europe’s health information ecosystems
Session description
Europe’s health information ecosystems are now recognised as essential infrastructure. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the vulnerabilities of these systems to misinformation and disinformation, which undermined public health efforts and social cohesion. Infodemiology, a developing public health field, is increasingly being integrated into routine public health operations to mitigate misinformation and foster healthier health information ecosystems. Regional healthcare bodies, national ministries, and local departments are at various stages of advancing their health communications strategies to increase programme effectiveness. External factors such as rapid adoption of AI and political and social polarisation create both barriers and opportunities. This requires coordination, capacity building, and the cultivation of systems, institutions, and norms that enable reliable information and trusted communication to flourish. This session will discuss how key European-level initiatives and public-private sector partnerships can support the deeper integration of infodemiology in national health communication systems.
Speakers in this session
