Building on its annual tradition and following 6 successful editions, WHO/Europe – through its Office on Quality of Care and Patient Safety in Athens – in collaboration with the University of West Attica School of Public Health in Athens will hold the 7th WHO European Public Health Leadership Course (EPHLC) in Athens in April 2026.
About the WHO EPHLC 2026
As we enter the second quarter of the 21st century, the WHO European Region is facing interconnected challenges that will shape health and well-being for decades to come. These include the climate crisis; demographic change and ageing; migration and displacement; armed conflicts; shortages in the health and care workforce; widening inequalities in chronic diseases; the influence of powerful commercial interests; rising polarization; and declining trust in science and institutions.
In 2026, the seventh edition will take place in Athens. The online module is scheduled for 6–9 April, followed by the in-person module on 14–17 April. This edition will focus on the national context and aim to further strengthen public health leadership competencies across organizations, institutions and local authorities, including municipalities and administrative regions.
Why a course on public health leadership?
The EPHLC is designed to equip public health professionals with essential knowledge, strengthen leadership capacity, enhance communication and other core interpersonal skills, and support the development of innovative solutions to emerging challenges. The course places a strong emphasis on values, ethics and the application of evidence-informed policies.
The modules are structured around the domains of the Public Health Leadership Competency Framework:
- systems thinking
- political and collaborative leadership
- leading change
- communication
- emotional intelligence
- team leadership
- organizational learning and development
- ethics and professionalism.
This initiative is closely aligned with the WHO–Association of Schools of Public Health in the European Region Roadmap to Professionalizing the Public Health Workforce in the European Region, which underscores the importance of strengthening leadership competencies across the public health workforce through cross-sectoral and interdisciplinary approaches in response to evolving health needs.