For the third time during the implementation of the project, the Medical University of Silesia in Katowice took part in the Wellbeing Economy Forum 2026 – one of the most important dialogue platforms dedicated to the future of public health, the economy, and sustainable development. The Forum was organised by the Icelandic Directorate of Health, was a part of the JA PreventNCD initiative and one of the key events of the project.
On 15 April, internal meetings of the JA PreventNCD teams were held in Reykjavík, creating an opportunity for direct exchange of experiences, discussion of progress, and strengthening collaboration among project partners. On the same day, a special meeting took place between two incumbent Presidents: Halla Tómasdóttir, President of Iceland, and Nataša Pirc Musar, President of Slovenia. These meetings formed an important link between the activities carried out within the project and the broader international debate taking place during the Forum.
This year’s edition of the event took place at the Harpa Conference Hall in Reykjavík (Iceland) on 16-17 April and brought together representatives of public administration, academia, business, and practitioners from various sectors. The Forum provided a space for exchanging experiences and jointly seeking solutions to the most important challenges of our time.
The theme of the 2026 edition was “The Power of Wellbeing: Redefining Success”. Discussions focused on moving away from traditional indicators such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and on building economic systems that support health, social equity, sustainable development, and wellbeing, while also taking environmental constraints into account.
From the Medical University of Silesia, the Forum was attended by Anna Lempart-Rapacewicz, PhD. Participation in the event represents an important step towards strengthening international cooperation and actively contributing to the debate on shaping evidence-based public policies grounded in scientific knowledge. The event not only enabled participants to learn about innovative solutions, but also to share experiences and good practices.
During the sessions, one key conclusion emerged: building healthier and more sustainable societies requires long-term thinking, cross-sectoral collaboration, and a stronger focus on prevention and wellbeing. The JA PreventNCD project actively contributed to the discussions held during the Forum.
Event participation also provided an opportunity to engage in the global debate on building more sustainable and resilient socio-economic systems, in which human wellbeing is a key priority.
