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

LinkedIn https://uk.linkedin.com/in/pauljbelcher
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🗳️ Research: Population health is associated with increasing vote share for #ReformUK

Constituencies electing #Reform MPs had highest average prevalence of 15/20 conditions

“a further incentive to take steps to improve #publichealth and reduce #inequalities

bmjopenrespres.bmj.com/content/12/1...
What is the relationship between population health and voting patterns: an ecological study in England
Background Health is a fundamental issue in politics and an area where governments hold significant levers of influence. Countries in Europe have seen increased support for populist political parties,...
bmjopenrespres.bmj.com
Reposted by Paul Belcher FRCP MFPH Hon 🇪🇺🇬🇧
"Essential services are now digital by default, leaving many older people feeling locked out of their own lives."

As more of our lives move online by default, digital ageism has quietly become one of the last unchallenged prejudices, writes Fiona Daly.

jrnl.ie/6864189
Opinion: We’ve grown far too comfortable excluding older people from the digital world
As more of our lives move online by default, digital ageism has quietly become one of the last unchallenged prejudices, writes Fiona Daly.
jrnl.ie
November 11, 2025 at 7:00 AM
🇫🇮 LIVE: @ephconference.bsky.social joint statement:

#Invest in systems that advance health
✅ Embed #equity
✅ Promote #HealthforAll
✅ Protect from #Disinformation
✅ Support public health #Workforce
✅ Measure #Wellbeing not just growth

#EPH2025 @eupha.bsky.social

ephconference.eu/2025-eph-con...
2025 EPH Conference Helsinki Statement
ephconference.eu
November 11, 2025 at 8:42 AM
🇪🇺 #Deregulation plans break #EU law and weaken social and environmental protections, legal scholars warn

“rolling back existing #humanrights and #environmental protections without proper justification.”

@euobserver.com @alemanno.bsky.social

euobserver.com/green-econom...
Deregulation plans break EU law, legal scholars warn
Over one hundred legal experts have warned that the EU’s Omnibus I package, which cuts green and social reporting rules, breached EU law and was "likely to be annulled" if adopted.
euobserver.com
November 11, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Reposted by Paul Belcher FRCP MFPH Hon 🇪🇺🇬🇧
The UK played a pivotal role in creating the ECHR. Leaving it now would betray that legacy, and destroy the very principles we helped to create.
November 10, 2025 at 10:28 AM
Reposted by Paul Belcher FRCP MFPH Hon 🇪🇺🇬🇧
🇪🇺 #Alcohol profits before #PublicHealth and #Democracy?

How the new “EU Wine Package” reveals a troubling imbalance between public interest and private influence.

No public health assessment and the European Parliament and health civil society are being bypassed.

euobserver.com/eu-political...
Lack of transparency of EU's new wine proposals will cause a hangover
The EU Wine Package — a broad reform of the rules for how wine should be produced, marketed, and labelled across the EU — is moving forward with unusual speed and limited transparency.
euobserver.com
November 7, 2025 at 7:05 AM
Reposted by Paul Belcher FRCP MFPH Hon 🇪🇺🇬🇧
🇪🇺 Moving towards an EU taxation system on products high in #Sugar, #Fat and #Salt?

➡️ EU Tax Commissioner wants taxes on sugar and salt to finance EU's long-term budget

➡️ EU Health Commissioner wants a taxation system to help fund EU #PublicHealth initiatives.

www.euractiv.com/news/commiss...
Commissioner Hoekstra keeps tax on sugar, salt open for future EU budget | Euractiv
At a College of Commissioners meeting, the EU commissioner for taxation floated the idea as a potential new own resource
www.euractiv.com
November 6, 2025 at 7:05 AM
Reposted by Paul Belcher FRCP MFPH Hon 🇪🇺🇬🇧
⚠️ Press freedom under attack ⚠️

Asking an uncomfortable question can cost you your job if you are a journalist at Agenzia Nova.

We stand in solidarity with @gabrielenunziati.bsky.social

theintercept.com/2025/11/04/j...
A Journalist Asked Why Israel Isn’t Paying to Rebuild Gaza. It Cost Him His Job.
Italy’s Nova news agency confirmed it let reporter Gabriele Nunziati go for asking a European official about Israel at a press conference.
theintercept.com
November 6, 2025 at 2:57 PM
🇪🇺 #Alcohol profits before #PublicHealth and #Democracy?

How the new “EU Wine Package” reveals a troubling imbalance between public interest and private influence.

No public health assessment and the European Parliament and health civil society are being bypassed.

euobserver.com/eu-political...
Lack of transparency of EU's new wine proposals will cause a hangover
The EU Wine Package — a broad reform of the rules for how wine should be produced, marketed, and labelled across the EU — is moving forward with unusual speed and limited transparency.
euobserver.com
November 7, 2025 at 7:05 AM
🇪🇺 Moving towards an EU taxation system on products high in #Sugar, #Fat and #Salt?

➡️ EU Tax Commissioner wants taxes on sugar and salt to finance EU's long-term budget

➡️ EU Health Commissioner wants a taxation system to help fund EU #PublicHealth initiatives.

www.euractiv.com/news/commiss...
Commissioner Hoekstra keeps tax on sugar, salt open for future EU budget | Euractiv
At a College of Commissioners meeting, the EU commissioner for taxation floated the idea as a potential new own resource
www.euractiv.com
November 6, 2025 at 7:05 AM
Reposted by Paul Belcher FRCP MFPH Hon 🇪🇺🇬🇧
Time for a #WellbeingEconomy: "Growth for growth’s sake has led to a concentration of wealth and widening inequality"

#EconomyOfWellbeing @eurohealthnet.bsky.social
“Our obsession with growth as the end point and the measure of societal success has brought us to this planetary health equity crisis, and we can’t grow our way out of it” - Sharon Friel and Chelsea Hunnisett
Productivity Commission urged to ditch economic growth mindset, for the sake of our health and planet
As the Productivity Commission finalises its reports to Government on reform priorities, researchers have put forward four suggestions for how
www.croakey.org
November 2, 2025 at 7:36 AM
Time for a #WellbeingEconomy: "Growth for growth’s sake has led to a concentration of wealth and widening inequality"

#EconomyOfWellbeing @eurohealthnet.bsky.social
“Our obsession with growth as the end point and the measure of societal success has brought us to this planetary health equity crisis, and we can’t grow our way out of it” - Sharon Friel and Chelsea Hunnisett
Productivity Commission urged to ditch economic growth mindset, for the sake of our health and planet
As the Productivity Commission finalises its reports to Government on reform priorities, researchers have put forward four suggestions for how
www.croakey.org
November 2, 2025 at 7:36 AM
Reposted by Paul Belcher FRCP MFPH Hon 🇪🇺🇬🇧
🇺🇸 Political #censorship of #Science: Scientists forced to change more than 700 grant titles to receive NIH funding

"They are trying to make people afraid to use the word ‘ #equity.’ They’re trying to make people afraid to use the term ‘ #transgender.’"

www.statnews.com/2025/10/29/n...
Scientists had to change more than 700 grant titles to receive NIH funding. Health disparities researchers fear what’s next
The titles of more than 700 multi-year NIH grants have been changed this year, according to an analysis by Jeremy Berg, a former agency official
www.statnews.com
October 30, 2025 at 7:35 AM
🇺🇸 Political #censorship of #Science: Scientists forced to change more than 700 grant titles to receive NIH funding

"They are trying to make people afraid to use the word ‘ #equity.’ They’re trying to make people afraid to use the term ‘ #transgender.’"

www.statnews.com/2025/10/29/n...
Scientists had to change more than 700 grant titles to receive NIH funding. Health disparities researchers fear what’s next
The titles of more than 700 multi-year NIH grants have been changed this year, according to an analysis by Jeremy Berg, a former agency official
www.statnews.com
October 30, 2025 at 7:35 AM
Reposted by Paul Belcher FRCP MFPH Hon 🇪🇺🇬🇧
“The Make Europe Healthy Again #MEHA launch at the European Parliament in Brussels last week brought together what is now a familiar alliance of #far-right politicians, #anti-vaxxers and alternative health practitioners.”

@healthpolicywatch.bsky.social

healthpolicy-watch.news/make-europe-...
'Make Europe Healthy Again' Launch Is Dominated By Anti-Vaxxers And Far Right Politicians - Health Policy Watch
The Make Europe Healthy Again (MEHA) launch at the European Parliament in Brussels last week brought together what is now a familiar alliance of far-right
healthpolicy-watch.news
October 23, 2025 at 6:09 AM
“The Make Europe Healthy Again #MEHA launch at the European Parliament in Brussels last week brought together what is now a familiar alliance of #far-right politicians, #anti-vaxxers and alternative health practitioners.”

@healthpolicywatch.bsky.social

healthpolicy-watch.news/make-europe-...
'Make Europe Healthy Again' Launch Is Dominated By Anti-Vaxxers And Far Right Politicians - Health Policy Watch
The Make Europe Healthy Again (MEHA) launch at the European Parliament in Brussels last week brought together what is now a familiar alliance of far-right
healthpolicy-watch.news
October 23, 2025 at 6:09 AM
Reposted by Paul Belcher FRCP MFPH Hon 🇪🇺🇬🇧
🇪🇺 Study: EU legislation remains market-oriented, at the expense of public health

European Parliament research highlights 'legislative inaction' on #tobacco and #alcohol including delays with #prevention strategies

www.euractiv.com/news/parliam...
Parliament study praises EU Cancer Plan, but laments 'legislative inaction' | Euractiv
"Delays persist in tobacco and alcohol control legislation in particular", the paper reads
www.euractiv.com
October 22, 2025 at 6:28 AM
🇪🇺 Study: EU legislation remains market-oriented, at the expense of public health

European Parliament research highlights 'legislative inaction' on #tobacco and #alcohol including delays with #prevention strategies

www.euractiv.com/news/parliam...
Parliament study praises EU Cancer Plan, but laments 'legislative inaction' | Euractiv
"Delays persist in tobacco and alcohol control legislation in particular", the paper reads
www.euractiv.com
October 22, 2025 at 6:28 AM
Reposted by Paul Belcher FRCP MFPH Hon 🇪🇺🇬🇧
🇪🇺 #Lobbying: Why is the #EU operating a politics of #secrecy on #chemicals safety?

“It’s time the European Commission stands up to #corporate lobbyists”

“the EU Commission is keeping the public in the dark”

@eurobserver25.bsky.social @corporateeurope.org

euobserver.com/eu-political...
Why is the EU operating a politics of secrecy on chemical safety?
The EU Commission justified its refusal to share the documents by admitting it is worried that it will not be able to withstand the “unnecessary pressure from stakeholders” ‒ in other words, the lobby...
euobserver.com
October 18, 2025 at 6:43 AM
🇪🇺 #Lobbying: Why is the #EU operating a politics of #secrecy on #chemicals safety?

“It’s time the European Commission stands up to #corporate lobbyists”

“the EU Commission is keeping the public in the dark”

@eurobserver25.bsky.social @corporateeurope.org

euobserver.com/eu-political...
Why is the EU operating a politics of secrecy on chemical safety?
The EU Commission justified its refusal to share the documents by admitting it is worried that it will not be able to withstand the “unnecessary pressure from stakeholders” ‒ in other words, the lobby...
euobserver.com
October 18, 2025 at 6:43 AM
Reposted by Paul Belcher FRCP MFPH Hon 🇪🇺🇬🇧
Paul Belcher’s starter pack on European public health
October 16, 2025 at 12:54 AM
'We must catch up soon!' How to stop ghosting your friends

“Yes, we must. But we rarely do. It explains why research finds we lose around half of our friends every seven years.”

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Friendships: How to keep them going even when you're busy
How to keep friendships alive as an adult alongside work, family and endless to-do lists.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 16, 2025 at 12:09 PM
🇪🇺 Leaked European Commission 2026 work programme: Plan covers everything from defence to diamonds with a small dose of #PublicHealth including #GlobalHealth and #Tobacco

The final version will be presented to the European Parliament next week

@euractiv.com

www.euractiv.com/news/exclusi...
EXCLUSIVE: European Commission's 2026 work programme leaked | Euractiv
Legislative plan covers everything from defence to anti-trust initiatives through next year
www.euractiv.com
October 16, 2025 at 6:15 AM
Reposted by Paul Belcher FRCP MFPH Hon 🇪🇺🇬🇧
↘️ Social prescribing can help build trust, reduce pressure on health systems & advance #healthequity.

📘 Alison Maassen & Ülla-Karin Nurm explore how in the new #Eurohealth issue for #EHFG2025: tiny.cc/EurohealthEH...

🔉Watch the @gasteinforum.bsky.social session recording: ehfg.live/recordings/s4
October 15, 2025 at 2:52 PM