During the WHS Regional Meeting 2023, UNITE Parliamentarians Network is jointly with the Virchow Foundation organising a session in Washington to discuss the critical need to promote collaborations between academia and policymakers. The aim of this event is to explore ways to advance evidence-based health policies through effective partnerships.

Date: 13th of April
Time: 8:00 am to 9:00 am
Venue: Washington Hilton
Registration link: >Link

According to UNITE’s President, Ricardo Baptista Leite, “one of the key benefits of collaboration between policymakers and academia is the ability to develop and implement evidence-based interventions that are informed by high-quality research”. By working together, policymakers and academics can leverage research evidence to design and implement public health policies and interventions that are tailored to the unique needs of their communities. This can lead to more effective interventions and significant improvements in public health outcomes.

However, effective collaboration between policymakers and academia requires a significant investment of time and resources. Academics must be willing to engage with policymakers and work collaboratively to identify solutions to complex public health challenges. They must also take responsibility for translating their research findings into policies and practices that have a real-world impact. Similarly, policymakers must be open to collaborating with academics and willing to incorporate research evidence into their decision-making processes.

In this session, policymakers such as Hon. Andrew Ullmann from Germany, Hon. Akua Sena Dansua from Ghana, and Hon. Ricardo Baptista Leite from Portugal will convene a discussion with participants on the way forward. This event provides a unique opportunity for participants to learn about successful examples of collaborations between policymakers and academics and to discuss ways to further promote such partnerships.

Join us for this event to engage in fruitful discussions and explore ways to advance evidence-based health policies through effective collaborations between academia and policymakers.