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EXPERT GROUP ON NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASES RELATED
 TO LIFESTYLES AND SOCIAL AND WORK ENVIRONMENTS

Background, composition, objectives, activities, documents and members

Background

Within the Northern Dimension area certain social and economic problems, such as smoking, hazardous and harmful use of alcohol, overweight, lack of physical activity, accidents and violence, continue to result in high rates in morbidity, mortality and disability. Health in all policies is an essential tool for better access to healthy physical and social environments – including services of health and social care. Effective health promotion and disease prevention including evidence based screening programmes are needed.

People can be supported to adopt and strengthen healthier lifestyles. A more integrated approach is needed from the health care, social and education sectors to overcome modern time lifestyle related “epidemics.” But even more important is to come to understand that “every minister is a health minister”. Planning healthy infrastructure and roads for cities, collaborating with police, restricting smoking in public places and protecting people from passive tobacco smoke, prohibiting and controlling access of alcohol to minors, levying tobacco, alcohol, sugar and other excise taxes can be more effective in producing more health than health education brochures handed to citizens.

The Declaration concerning the establishment of a NDPHS places great emphasis on enhancement and promotion of healthy and socially rewarding lifestyles, and pays special attention to healthy nutrition, physical activity, smoke-free environment, alcohol- and drug-free leisure time activities, safe sexual behaviour, supportive social and work environment and constructive social skills. From 2005 until mid-2010, activities in this area were fostered by the then Expert Group on Social Inclusion, Healthy Lifestyles and Work Ability (SIHLWA), and from mid-2010 they are being implemented by the Expert Group on Non-Communicable Diseases related to Lifestyles and Social and Work Environments (NCD EG). The meeting documents of these groups can, respectively, be found here and here.

Following the adoption of the NDPHS Strategy 2020 and the Action Plan accompanying it, which define specific objectives, results and concrete activities linked to them, in October 2015 the NDPHS Committee of Senior Representatives (CSR) renewed the mandate of the Expert Group on Non-Communicable Diseases related to Lifestyles and Social and Work Environments by adopting new Terms of Reference for it and tasking it with the facilitation and implementation the Objective 3: Reduced impact of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) – through strengthened prevention and addressing lifestyle-related risk factors as specified in the NDPHS Strategy 2020. It should be noted that activities of the NCD EG are complemented by those of the Alcohol and Substance Abuse Expert Group which was also established in 2010 and focuses on the facilitation and implementation of the Strategy‘s Objective 4: Reduced social and health harm from alcohol, tobacco and illicit use of drugs - through strengthening and promotion of multi-sectoral approaches. Finally, the Expert Group will, together with other bodies of the NDPHS, contribute to achieving the Horizontal results defined in the Action Plan accompanying the NDPHS Strategy 2020.

Composition

The NCD EG is comprised of high-level experts representing the Partners who come from national ministries and agencies of Partner Countries and Organisations, the research community, NGOs and other relevant parties. The list of the members of the NCD EG is provided further down.

All eligible stakeholders are welcome to provide input to the NCD EG’s current and future activities. External experts are also invited to participate in the group’s meetings, as appropriate.

Aims and functions

In accordance to the above mentioned Declaration concerning the establishment of a NDPHS, under the guidance of the CSR, an Expert Group may have an advisory role and/or provide professional input to the preparation and implementation of joint activities carried out within the framework of the Partnership. Also, the Declaration permits Expert Groups to “facilitate professional exchanges, increase co-ordination among Partners and Participants and monitor joint activities within their area of expertise.” Consistent with these provisions, the Expert Group has the following functions:
 

• Exchange information and knowledge about best practices to assist the partner countries in achieving the objectives defined in the NDPHS Strategy 2020;
• Use available statistical and epidemiological information from official sources to assist decision makers and contribute to the achievement of the objectives defined in the NDPHS Strategy 2020;
• Identify priorities, needs for support in developing policies and gaps in their implementation;
• Initiate projects, provide when possible, support in planning, monitoring and dissemination of results;
• Provide the Partnership website/database/newsletters with information concerning the Expert Group’s work;
• Provide feedback and report on progress to the CSR;
• Co-ordinate its activities with other NDPHS structures, relevant groups and international networks in areas of mutual interest in a manner that promotes synergies and avoids the duplication of efforts and supports the achievement of objectives included in the NDPHS Strategy 2020;
• Contribute to proper discharging of the Partnership’s responsibilities as the Coordinator for the Health Policy Area in the Action Plan of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region together with other NDPHS structures, as appropriate;
• Be open to innovate and employ new methods of work to improve collaboration between the partner countries and other relevant stakeholders. Document CSR 24/9.3/1 “New approaches for future collaboration within the NDPHS” can provide suggestions in this regard;
• Other relevant responsibilities, as approved by the CSR or the Partnership Annual Conference (PAC).

Activities

The Expert Group's activities follow the priorities set out in the NDPHS Strategy 2020 and the Action Plan accompanying it and are being implemented in accordance with the NDPHS Annual Work Plan for 2016.

Meetings

The NCD EG holds approximately 2 meetings per year. Specific information about forthcoming and past meetings, including meeting documents and minutes can be accessed on the Expert Group meetings web page.

Documents and minutes of the formerly operating SIHLWA EG, which was, inter alia, covering the issues dealt with by the NCD EG, can be accessed here.

Calendar

View all calendar events of relevance to the NCD EG. Learn more about other sections of our Calendar.

Progress reports

Every year the NDPHS Expert Groups prepare progress reports. These reports are prepared in accordance with the Template for monitoring and reporting of the NDPHS progress and are submitted to every autumn CSR meeting and/or PAC event (they can be download here). With reference to the NDPHS Strategy 2020 and the accompanying NDPHS Action Plan, they, inter alia, present the progress towards the agreed targets and take stock of achievements made, as well as describe further action required, obstacles encountered and, finally, the sustainability and expected long-term impact of the group’s activities.

Further information

Visit the NDPHS Database, which provides a growing number of papers (publications, newsletters, etc.) and projects, dealing with reduction of lifestyle-related non-communicable diseases and promotion of good social and work environments. It also provides a pool of organisations and experts, which have been working in this area. The Database contains four sections. By clicking the links below, you will gain direct access to activities and expertise in the field of reduction of life-style-related non-communicable diseases and promotion of good social and work environments in the NDPHS Database, sorted by:
 

• Papers
• Projects
• Organisations
• Persons
  

Please note that you can also submit your own information on reduction of lifestyle-related non-communicable diseases and promotion of good social and work environments to the Database (read more).

Members 

Chairperson

Cooperation with Chair Country Russia suspended
.

Co-Chair

Mr. Kremlin Wickramasinghe
WHO Regional Office for Europe,
Geographically Distant Office on
Prevention and control of
Non-communicable diseases in
the Russian Federation
WHO-RUS-GDO
Address: 9, Leontyevsky pereulok,
125009 Moscow,
Russian Federation

International Technical Advisor

Cooperation with Chair Country Russia suspended
.

Finland

Mr. Pekka Jousilahti
National Institute for Health and Welfare
P.O. Box 30
FI-00271 Helsinki, Finland

Alternate(s)

Mr. Mikko Vienonen
Public Health
Finnish Consulting Group (FCG),
Ministry of Social Affairs
Kalasatamankatu 9 A 168
00580 Helsinki

Dr. Tiina Laatikainen
Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare
Public Health and Welfare Department
P.O. Box 30
00271 Helsinki

Estonia

Dr. Anneli Sammel
National Institute for Health Development
Centre for Health Risks Prevention
Hiiu 42,
11619 Tallinn, Estonia

Latvia

Ms. Iveta Pudule
Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
Duntes iela 22,
LV-1005 Riga, Latvia

Alternate(s)

Ms. Madara Saka
Ministry of Health of the Republic of Latvia
Brivibas 72,
LV-1011 Riga, Latvia

Lithuania

Ms. Audronė Astrauskienė
Ministry of Health
Vilnius str. 33
LT-01506 Vilnius, Lithuania

Alternate(s)

Mr. Vincentas Liuima
Institute of Hygiene
Didzioji str. 22,
LT-01128 Vilnius, Lithuania

Norway

Ms. Arnhild Haga Rimestad
The Department of Public Health
Norwegian Ministry of Health and Care Services
P.O. Box 8011 Dep
Teatergata 9
NO-0030 Oslo, Norway

Poland

Dr. Artur Karol Jakubiak
Medical University of Lublin
Chair and Department of Family Medicine
Langiewicza St. 6a
20-032 Lublin, Poland

Russia

Cooperation suspended until
further notice.

Sweden

Dr. Pia Lindeskog
Public Health Agency of Sweden
Nobels väg, 18,
17182, Solna, Sweden