Paul Belcher FRCP MFPH Hon 🇪🇺🇬🇧
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pauljbelcher.bsky.social
Paul Belcher FRCP MFPH Hon 🇪🇺🇬🇧
@pauljbelcher.bsky.social
European Public Health 🔹Fellow, Royal College of Physicians🔹EU Advisor, EurohealthNet🔹Member, UK Faculty of Public Health - European Public Health Association🔹Advisory Committee, European Health Forum

LinkedIn https://uk.linkedin.com/in/pauljbelcher
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🇺🇳 Opinion: ‘Europe has greater responsibility in the World Health Organization without the United States’ - Writes Professor Ilona Kickbusch in @bmj.com

‘Europe must become a proactive system stabiliser as the principal guarantor of @who.int ’s operational continuity’

www.bmj.com/content/392/...
Europe has greater responsibility in the WHO without the United States
The US’s withdrawal from WHO makes Europe the system stabiliser in global health multilateralism, writes Ilona Kickbusch At the upcoming executive board meeting of the World Health Organization (WHO...
www.bmj.com
Reposted by Paul Belcher FRCP MFPH Hon 🇪🇺🇬🇧
🇪🇺 EU #HealthResearch Funding: 26 #HorizonEurope 'Health' calls for proposals

The European Commission has published the 2026 Horizon Europe ‘Health’ calls for proposals with a deadline 16 April 2026

hadea.ec.europa.eu/news/2026-ho...
2026 Horizon Europe 'Health' calls for proposals
The European Commission has published the 2026 Horizon Europe ‘Health’ calls for proposals. Interested applicants are invited to check the EU Funding and Tenders Portal for more information and to app...
hadea.ec.europa.eu
February 13, 2026 at 7:21 AM
🇪🇺 EU #HealthResearch Funding: 26 #HorizonEurope 'Health' calls for proposals

The European Commission has published the 2026 Horizon Europe ‘Health’ calls for proposals with a deadline 16 April 2026

hadea.ec.europa.eu/news/2026-ho...
2026 Horizon Europe 'Health' calls for proposals
The European Commission has published the 2026 Horizon Europe ‘Health’ calls for proposals. Interested applicants are invited to check the EU Funding and Tenders Portal for more information and to app...
hadea.ec.europa.eu
February 13, 2026 at 7:21 AM
Reposted by Paul Belcher FRCP MFPH Hon 🇪🇺🇬🇧
🇪🇺 EU countries scale back #tobacco #tax proposal: A win for industry #lobbying?

“When taxes are weaker, consumption stays higher, addiction lasts longer, and more people develop serious disease”

@lungcancereurope.bsky.social

www.theexamination.org/articles/eu-... @theexamination.org
EU countries scale back tobacco tax proposal
The latest draft recommends smaller tax hikes for cigarettes, heated tobacco and e-cigarette liquids.
www.theexamination.org
February 11, 2026 at 7:12 AM
#AnalysisParalysis in #PublicHealth and policy: when evidence becomes an alibi

We often say we need more evidence before acting in public health. But what if the real problem is not missing evidence but avoiding decisions?

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Paralysis in public health and policy: when evidence becomes an alibi
Public health operates in an era of unprecedented data availability and analytical sophistication, yet action on well-established health challenges is…
www.sciencedirect.com
February 12, 2026 at 7:30 AM
🇪🇺 EU countries scale back #tobacco #tax proposal: A win for industry #lobbying?

“When taxes are weaker, consumption stays higher, addiction lasts longer, and more people develop serious disease”

@lungcancereurope.bsky.social

www.theexamination.org/articles/eu-... @theexamination.org
EU countries scale back tobacco tax proposal
The latest draft recommends smaller tax hikes for cigarettes, heated tobacco and e-cigarette liquids.
www.theexamination.org
February 11, 2026 at 7:12 AM
Reposted by Paul Belcher FRCP MFPH Hon 🇪🇺🇬🇧
"When we destroy a forest, we are creating GDP. When we overfish, we are creating GDP"

Head of the UN says the way we measure economic activity needs to change

He's not wrong. The vested interests in keeping things the same are considerable, however

www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Global economy must move past GDP to avoid planetary disaster, warns UN chief
Exclusive: António Guterres says world’s accounting systems should place true value on the environment
www.theguardian.com
February 9, 2026 at 8:29 AM
Dutch bid to raise #nicotine age to 21 taps into Europe-wide shift

The change would also apply to vapes which are currently sold from age 18 – the standard minimum sales age across Europe.

Latvia raised the nicotine age last year with Ireland & Finland following

www.euractiv.com/news/dutch-b...
Dutch bid to raise nicotine age to 21 taps into Europe-wide shift | Euractiv
Latvia raised the nicotine age last year, with Ireland and Finland following
www.euractiv.com
February 9, 2026 at 6:42 AM
Reposted by Paul Belcher FRCP MFPH Hon 🇪🇺🇬🇧
🇺🇸🇺🇳 #NewYork city and several U.S. states to join World Health Organization global outbreak response network in defiance of #Trump's withdrawal from @who.int

The Governors of #California and #Illinois have also said their states will join this WHO network.

www.reuters.com/business/hea...
New York City joins UN health network after Trump withdrew US from WHO
The New York City Health Department on Wednesday said it has joined the World Health Organization's global outbreak response network following President Donald Trump's withdrawal of the U.S. from the ...
www.reuters.com
February 5, 2026 at 7:11 AM
🇺🇸🇺🇳 #NewYork city and several U.S. states to join World Health Organization global outbreak response network in defiance of #Trump's withdrawal from @who.int

The Governors of #California and #Illinois have also said their states will join this WHO network.

www.reuters.com/business/hea...
New York City joins UN health network after Trump withdrew US from WHO
The New York City Health Department on Wednesday said it has joined the World Health Organization's global outbreak response network following President Donald Trump's withdrawal of the U.S. from the ...
www.reuters.com
February 5, 2026 at 7:11 AM
Reposted by Paul Belcher FRCP MFPH Hon 🇪🇺🇬🇧
⚠️ “Ultra-processed foods should be treated more like #cigarettes than #food” – study

#UPFs are made to encourage #addiction and consumption and should be regulated like #tobacco, say researchers from Harvard, the University of Michigan and Duke University.

www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
Ultra-processed foods should be treated more like cigarettes than food – study
UPFs are made to encourage addiction and consumption and should be regulated like tobacco, say researchers
www.theguardian.com
February 3, 2026 at 9:13 AM
⚠️ “Ultra-processed foods should be treated more like #cigarettes than #food” – study

#UPFs are made to encourage #addiction and consumption and should be regulated like #tobacco, say researchers from Harvard, the University of Michigan and Duke University.

www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
Ultra-processed foods should be treated more like cigarettes than food – study
UPFs are made to encourage addiction and consumption and should be regulated like tobacco, say researchers
www.theguardian.com
February 3, 2026 at 9:13 AM
Reposted by Paul Belcher FRCP MFPH Hon 🇪🇺🇬🇧
🇺🇸 #Trump’s new #aid rules risk lives, #EU says

Trump administration seeks to restrict NGOs, governments and agencies in receipt of U.S. funding from promoting not only #abortion but also “ #gender ideology” and “discriminatory #equity ideology”

www.politico.eu/article/dona...
Trump’s new aid rules risk lives, EU says
Expansion of the Mexico City Policy “undermines joint efforts for human rights, global health, peace and stability,” the European Commission said.
www.politico.eu
February 1, 2026 at 8:26 AM
Jeffrey #Epstein: "I have met some very bad people. None as bad as #Trump. Not one decent cell in his body."

#EpsteinFiles
February 3, 2026 at 8:50 AM
Reposted by Paul Belcher FRCP MFPH Hon 🇪🇺🇬🇧
Auschwitz was at the end of a process. We must remember that it did not start from gas chambers.

This hatred gradually developed: from ideas, words, stereotypes & prejudice through legal exclusion, dehumanization & escalating violence... to systematic and industrial murder.

Auschwitz took time.
January 27, 2026 at 11:00 AM
Reposted by Paul Belcher FRCP MFPH Hon 🇪🇺🇬🇧
The Observer View: Lords are defying democracy over assisted dying
The Observer View: Lords are defying democracy over assis...
The sabotage of the end of life bill by a small group of unelected individuals is unconstitutional
observer.co.uk
February 1, 2026 at 6:23 PM
🇺🇸 #Trump’s new #aid rules risk lives, #EU says

Trump administration seeks to restrict NGOs, governments and agencies in receipt of U.S. funding from promoting not only #abortion but also “ #gender ideology” and “discriminatory #equity ideology”

www.politico.eu/article/dona...
Trump’s new aid rules risk lives, EU says
Expansion of the Mexico City Policy “undermines joint efforts for human rights, global health, peace and stability,” the European Commission said.
www.politico.eu
February 1, 2026 at 8:26 AM
🇺🇳 Opinion: ‘Europe has greater responsibility in the World Health Organization without the United States’ - Writes Professor Ilona Kickbusch in @bmj.com

‘Europe must become a proactive system stabiliser as the principal guarantor of @who.int ’s operational continuity’

www.bmj.com/content/392/...
Europe has greater responsibility in the WHO without the United States
The US’s withdrawal from WHO makes Europe the system stabiliser in global health multilateralism, writes Ilona Kickbusch At the upcoming executive board meeting of the World Health Organization (WHO...
www.bmj.com
February 1, 2026 at 7:45 AM
✒️ Signed: Please join me and support #DignityInDying

Let's remind @houseoflords.parliament.uk that over 70% of people in the UK and the House of Commons support law change as proposed in the #AssistedDying Bill.
The assisted dying Bill is receiving its 8th day of scrutiny in the House of Lords today.

After 7 days, Peers are continuing to consider Clause 1 of a 59 clause Bill.

This is running down the clock.
We must stop it. Join the fightback 👉 www.dignityindying.org.uk/petition
“No Dying Person Should Be Made To Suffer.” Add Your Name >>
Join the public record of support for legalising assisted dying.
action.dignityindying.org.uk
January 30, 2026 at 4:58 PM
Reposted by Paul Belcher FRCP MFPH Hon 🇪🇺🇬🇧
Ladies and Gentlemen I give you the President of the United States of America, the most powerful statesman in the world.
January 30, 2026 at 3:23 PM
Reposted by Paul Belcher FRCP MFPH Hon 🇪🇺🇬🇧
It will be my huge pleasure to chair tomorrow’s meeting with Lloyd Russell-Moyle in the heart of Brighton
Looking forward to welcoming Lloyd Russell-Moyle, former Labour MP for Brighton Kemptown and now Green Party member, to talk to us about Erasmus+ and UK-EU politics generally. Tomorrow 11:30am, Brighton Unitarian Church, New Road
January 30, 2026 at 8:50 AM
#Xodus: Royal College of Physicians leaves X

“we cannot overlook the normalisation of unacceptable online behaviour. Council members agreed that we should stop posting on X with immediate effect.”

@rcphysicians.bsky.social

www.rcplondon.ac.uk/news-and-med....
RCP to stop X activity following Council review
www.rcplondon.ac.uk
January 29, 2026 at 7:25 PM
#Trump Has Abandoned the World

#GordonBrown emphasizes that America’s withdrawal from 66 international organizations is at odds with global public opinion

"Trust in #WHO stands at 60% globally (rising to 85% in Sub-Saharan Africa) while trust in #UN is at 58%"

www.socialeurope.eu/trump-has-ab...
Trump Has Abandoned the World
Gordon Brown emphasizes that America’s withdrawal from 66 international organizations is at odds with global public opinion.
www.socialeurope.eu
January 28, 2026 at 8:25 AM
Reposted by Paul Belcher FRCP MFPH Hon 🇪🇺🇬🇧
Melanie Reid, in the @theobserveruk.bsky.social, lays bare the growing anger of a country that overwhelmingly backs the assisted dying Bill.
The public is being forced to watch a small group of long-opposed Peers manipulate parliamentary process via bad-faith tactics.
observer.co.uk/news/columni...
January 26, 2026 at 3:08 PM
🇺🇳 US withdrawal from World Health Organization ‘Risks Global Safety’, #WHO says in strong response.

@who.int defends itself against accusations made by the #Trump administration including of ‘failures’ during COVID 19 pandemic.

www.who.int/news/item/24...
WHO statement on notification of withdrawal of the United States
WHO regrets the United States’ notification of withdrawal from WHO – a decision that makes both the United States and the world less safe. The notification of withdrawal raises issues that will be con...
www.who.int
January 26, 2026 at 7:21 AM
#PositiveNews | What went right this week: the good news that matters

Europe’s green energy ‘tipping point’, a US cancer milestone, and the return of a big beast to the Spanish highlands, plus more good news

www.positive.news/society/good...
What went right this week: the good news that matters - Positive News
Europe’s green energy ‘tipping point’, a US cancer milestone, and the return of a big beast to the Spanish highlands, plus more good news
www.positive.news
January 25, 2026 at 3:23 PM