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Background Existing studies indicate obesity and diseases associated with diet and sedentary lifestyle as leading health problem in Poland that cannot be solved without explicit public intervention. The purpose of this study is to evaluate actions to create a healthy food environment, undertaken by public authorities in Poland. Methods We used the Food Environment Policy Index (Food-EPI) to describe the Polish national food environment policy. We analysed available government documents, studies, reports, legal acts and other relevant materials to compile a evidence document, which has been then validated with government officials. In the next stage (March 2020), national policies will be subject to assessment in reference to international best practices by independent experts through an online Delphi study. Results of the survey will be then used during a national workshop (April 2020) in order to formulate and prioritize actions. Results For 15 out of 47 indicators we found no evidence for government actions that would meet the criteria set out in the Food-EPI definition. In case of the other 6 indicators it was observed that the existing solutions are non-binding and result from government-independent policies. The lack or limits of government involvement was observed in particular in the domains related to food promotion, food provision, food in retail, and Health in All Policies. Results from the online study and the workshop will be presented during the conference. Conclusions The preliminary results obtained through the review of the evidence point to the need for intensified government activities in the area of shaping food policy in Poland. Full conclusions will be formulated after the study is completed. Preliminary findings of the Food-EPI project suggest the need for strengthening food environment policy in Poland.

Background European Union (EU) Member states' food environments are shaped by both national and EU policies. To date however, studies assessing food environment policies developed and set by the EU are scarce. The aim of this study was to assess the strength of EU policies to improve food environments as well as to assess the extent these policies could lead to a decrease or widening of socio-economic inequalities in dietary intake. Methods We compiled evidence on the EU policies for each of the Food-EPI 47 indicators. A European panel of independent, non-government experts (N = 30) specialized in nutrition, obesity or chronic diseases, using the Food-EPI evidence, rated the strength of EU policies to improve food environments during an online survey in February-March 2020. The experts also rated to which extent policies could lead to a decrease or widening of socio-economic inequalities in dietary intake. In addition, experts formulated actions to improve EU food environment policies, which were prioritized during a follow-up online survey. Results The overview of EU-level policies resulted in a 79-pages document, describing policies (or the lack thereof) for each of the 47 Food-EPI indicators. This document has been verified for completeness and accuracy by EU governmental officials. The evidence document shows that the EU has mainly binding legislation on the food labelling whereas policies on the other Food-EPI domains are mostly voluntary. Results from the online survey and the formulated prioritized actions will be presented during the conference. The results will reflect the experts' ratings supported by documented evidence and will provide meaningful guidance to EU officials and public health advocates in their efforts to improve the food environment policies set by the EU.

Dietary behaviours have an important impact on rising prevalence of noncommunicable diseases responsible for 71% of deaths globally/year. Dietary behaviours also have a growing impact on quality of life, disabilities, as well as economic stability of health systems. In order to overcome the growing impact, many countries are looking for instruments to modify dietary habits of individuals. In the study presented here, we looked at solutions implemented in different countries in terms of junk food taxation, with regard to the political processes related to their implementation, adopted models of taxation, as well as their impact on social and economic reality. Throughout the world, several countries have adopted dietary taxes, such as sugar, fat, salt and soda taxes, while the other are planning or considering doing so. So far there is only one example of withdrawal from the tax that has been implemented. There are different models of taxation, including flat rates, percentages of the basic price and progressive rates on the amount of the component being subject to taxation. These solutions continue to be controversial and subject to intensive discussions in many countries. Nonetheless, the existing evidence shows that the impact on dietary habits seems to be positive.

Issue/problem Noncommunicable diseases are the main contributor to the global mortality, being responsible, as estimated, for 71% of deaths each year. About 80 of dietary dependent diseases has been identified so far, and their prevalence tends to exceed 30% in some populations. Description of the problem The growing prevalence of these diseases, along with impact on the quality of life, disabilities, as well as rising direct and indirect economic costs, constitute a basic foundation for emerging efforts to develop and implement new solutions within national health policies aimed at modifying dietary behaviours and reducing their negative impact on health status of individuals and populations. To address these problems the Joint Funding Action “Effectiveness of existing policies for lifestyle interventions - Policy Evaluation Network (PEN)” has been initiated, in which 28 research group across Europe are collaborating. Results The primary aim of the presented study will be to discuss the usage of the PEN instrument to identify best practices in food policies, including sugar sweetened beverages and junk food taxation. Previous examples of the instrument implementation will also be presented, including New Zealand, Australia and Canada, along with the results of current works on its development within the project. The second basic aspect for the study is to discuss and assess examples of food policies implemented in selected countries in terms of their effectiveness in modifying unhealthy behaviours. Lessons The time that has passed since the implementation of the evaluated solutions is too short to assess actual impact on health. Nonetheless, the existing evidence, including data from countries being the most successful examples of junk food taxation, like Mexico and Hungary, suggest that their impact on consumer choices, health literacy and also food industry in terms of food products composition, is positive.

Background The EU Directive on the application of patients’ rights in cross-border healthcare provides rules for facilitating access to cross-border healthcare and promotes cooperation on healthcare between member states, which brings many changes both in the organization and financing of health care. The aim of this paper is to assess whether providers in Poland are prepared to function within the single European market and what may be the impact on the …

Background A huge role in reducing inequalities in health is played by local governments, whose task is to respond to the needs of citizens. The local government is expected to be the first to address the changing health needs of residents, emerging inequality and injustice in access to health services. An essential tool in these activities are health programs conducted on the local …

The recent, tragic disaster at the pigeon fancier's fair in Katowice, which claimed 65 victims and injured 200 others, has left Poland in a state of shock. At the same time everyone was amazed at the efficiency of the rescue efforts, which stood out in sharp contrast to the chaos characterizing the Polish health care system and its emergency services. The implications of this accident merit consideration for the organisation of emergency services in Poland. Witnesses confirmed that the first ambulance arrived at the site just 4 min after the accident occurred. Well-equipped rescuers—firemen, soldiers, physicians, paramedics, mining rescuers, mountain and NGOs volunteers—quickly streamed into the disaster area. The injured were swiftly transported to nearby hospitals, which had …