The event attracted a diverse audience of academics, health professionals, and community stakeholders, underscoring the growing interest in social prescribing as a pathway toward more equitable and integrated primary care.

Both speakers explored how social prescribing and intersectoral collaboration can bridge health and social care to address vulnerability more effectively. A lively panel discussion followed, featuring researchers, local policymakers, and primary care professionals.

The event, organized by the Ghent University Department of Public Health and Primary Care - the Belgian partner in SP-EU - opened with a keynote by Prof. Wolfram Hermann (Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin), followed by Prof. Hans Grymonprez (Department of Social Work and Social Pedagogy, UGent).

Lina Papartyte (EuroHealthNet) proposed a reimagination of health financing and how we can increase investment into social prescribing whilst Bea Walker (NASP) gave reflections from a UK perspective and how vital international partnerships and networks are to strengthen all our work.

We heard from Marija Jakubauskienė, Lithuanian Minster for Health on the inclusion of Social Prescribing in their national strategy in 2023 and how the ministries of Culture and Health have worked jointly on implementation.

The discussion will continue at the European Health Forum Gastein 2025 during the session “Social, green and arts prescriptions for health: Harnessing the power of community interventions for well-being.”

🔹 More details: lnkd.in/eW9nQvEA

🔹 Read the article here: lnkd.in/emHmJUdR

They explore how social, green, and arts prescriptions can strengthen health systems by:

👉 Tackling wider determinants of health
👉 Strengthening social cohesion
👉 Advancing health equity

Whether you are interested in the latest innovations, new research, international collaboration or simply want to hear from some incredible speakers sharing reflections on preventative and community healthcare from a wide range of countries, you can register here; lnkd.in/edqbJCjB

The consortium's first General Assembly (GA) Meeting will take place in Berlin, Germany, from 19-21 March 2025.

The project started on January 1st 2025, with a grant amount of 6.97 million Euros, and will continue for 5 years. 22 institutions from 11 countries across Europe participate in the research and implementation of this joint undertaking - funded by the European Union (EU).

The overall objective of SP-EU is to assess the potential of SP to promote and improve access to health and care services for people in vulnerable situations, focusing on three primary target groups:
#LGBTIQ persons
#refugees and first-generation #immigrants
Older Adults #elderly people living alone