On June 2–3, 2025, the very first conference focused on public health — the Public Health Conference & Policy Forum — took place in Prague. The event, co-organized by Jakub Hlávka from HEPII, brought together policymakers and leading experts in public health research, prevention, and health economics. More than 100 representatives from numerous Czech and international institutions attended, including participants from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, and other countries.
The conference proceedings (program here) were opened on both days by the Rector of Charles University, Milena Králíčková. She welcomed participants on the first day, which focused on the sharing of scientific knowledge, and also introduced the second day's program, which was dedicated to the application of research findings in public decision-making.
“Education in public health is still insufficient at universities in the Czech Republic. I’m pleased that this two-day event contributes to connecting experts and institutions, as closer cooperation will undoubtedly lead to more effective and faster collaboration — not only in research and education, but also in public policy,” said the Rector. “I hope that with this inaugural edition, we have launched a new tradition, and that we will meet again next year here at the Karolinum.”
One of the main organizers was Jakub Hlávka, Director of the Health Economics, Policy and Innovation Institute at Masaryk University, who emphasized the need for interdisciplinary collaboration and partnerships among all relevant institutions — including universities, the Ministry of Health and its agencies, international organizations such as the WHO, and the private sector.
“The event was truly unique in both its reach and thematic diversity,” said organizer Hlávka. He added: “I was particularly impressed by the contributions from representatives of the Ministry and political leaders, who expressed strong support for research and science communication in this field — from pandemic preparedness to the adaptation of health and social systems to the ageing Czech population. Meetings that bring together academics, civil servants, and policymakers are still quite rare in the Czech Republic, which makes me appreciate their participation all the more. I sincerely hope we can meet again in this format in the future.”
Back to the Pandemic
As part of the conference’s academic program, researchers from CERGE-EI presented their findings on how disease outbreaks during pandemics influence voting behavior. Their key conclusion was that in the Czech Republic, high rates of Covid-19 infection did not have lasting effects on electoral behavior. In contrast, during the 1918 influenza pandemic in Switzerland, higher infection rates actually led to decreased support for vaccination — unless a close family member had been directly affected.
The researchers emphasized the importance of their findings in light of future public health crises and highlighted the need for high-quality data and multidisciplinary approaches in research — a call they made during the conference itself.
The second day of discussions was opened by a presentation from Zsofia Pusztai of the World Health Organization’s Czech office. “Health systems — including the Czech one — are under constant pressure: from population ageing and workforce shortages to misinformation and declining trust in science. Strengthening prevention, modernizing education, and bridging research with practice are key to a healthier future. We appreciate the steps the Czech Republic is taking to professionalize public health. The WHO stands ready to be a partner to the Czech Republic,” said Zsofia Pusztai.
The WHO presentation was followed by panel discussions focused on strengthening the public health sector and its research base, effective prevention, and translating available scientific evidence into policymaking.
Among the panelists were Tom Philipp, Deputy Chair of the Parliamentary Health Committee, and Adam Vojtěch, former Minister of Health. Together with representatives of the academic community, they reflected on lessons learned from the recent pandemic and explored ways to enhance evidence-based decision-making. Panelists voiced strong support for public health institutional reform and emphasized the importance of supporting public health professionals. A recurring theme was the need to build human capacity, including the modernization of public health education programs.
The event was made possible in part thanks to the involvement of the National Institute of Virology and Bacteriology (NIVB), coordinated by the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences (IOCB Prague). Its director, Jan Konvalinka, highlighted the importance of evaluating lessons from the Covid-19 pandemic and reducing the fragmentation that hampers effective cooperation in times of acute public health threats and crises.
“Responses to health crises must be multidisciplinary if they are to be effective. Even the most effective vaccine is useless if people refuse to take it,” concluded Jan Konvalinka.
Photo: Vladimír Šigut, Michal Novotný
In June, representatives of HEPII visited Copenhagen to discuss international collaboration with the University of Copenhagen and the WHO Regional Office for Europe. Key topics included joint research projects and internship opportunities for students of the Applied Health Economics program.
The project “Ageing of the Population and Related Challenges for Health and Social Systems” (AGEING-CZ), led by principal investigator Jakub Hlávka from the Faculty of Economics and Administration, aims to study the economic, fiscal, and social risks associated with population ageing.
