European Public Health Week | Lunch Seminar: Policies to support vulnerable groups during the pandemic: Lessons learnt in Austria and the EU

Lunchtime seminar on the topic: Policies to support vulnerable groups during the pandemic.

We were honoured that the event could count on the participation of an honourable member of the cabinet of the Portuguese government, currently hosting the EU presidency with the motto  “Time to deliver: a fair, green and digital recovery”. In addition, the General Secretary of the Austrian Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection were commenting on the situation in Austria.

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown differences in vulnerability, with the most disadvantaged groups bearing the greatest health, social, and economic burden. This round table event provided insights into the situation of specific vulnerable groups and aims to identify policy lessons for European health care systems.

Paula Reid, neunerhaus: “How did homeless people experience the pandemic in Austria and what can health care systems do to protect them?”

This key note outlined the health and social impacts of the pandemic on people experiencing homelessness and other forms of social exclusion in Austria, using insights gained from the neunerhaus health centre and other neunerhaus services over the past year. Gaps in existing policy and provision for vulnerable groups have been identified and consideration given to what changes are needed in the future.

Download Presentation slides

Paula Reid is the health lead in the research and innovation department at neunerhaus. She previously worked at the Essl Foundation in Vienna, researching international innovations in the field of disability. Before moving to Austria from the UK in 2018, she was Policy Manager at Homeless Link, the national membership charity for homelessness organisations in England, where she focused on health inequalities and the interface between health and housing, and also worked at national mental health charity Rethink Mental Illness. She has a MRes in Public Policy and Management from the University of London.

Policy Flashlights:

• Portugal – Dr. Ana Sofia Antunes, Secretary of State for the Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities
• Austria – Dr. Ines Stilling, General Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Health, Social Affairs and Consumer Protection

Welcoming, hosting and moderation
Andrea E. Schmidt
Deputy Head of Health Economics and Health Systems Analysis
Gesundheit Österreich GmbH

*** The event took place in the European Public Health Week - Joining forces for healthier populations and is co-organised by TF SÖD, the task force on socio-economic determinants of health of the Austrian National Public Health Institute ***