The International Association of Health Policy (IAHP) is a scientific, political, and cultural organisation founded in 1977. It is an international network of scholars, health workers, and activists with the aim of promoting the scientific analysis of public health issues and a forum for international comparisons and debate on health policy issues.
This discussion will examine how militarisation and rearmament are transforming healthcare systems while simultaneously diverting resources away from public services. We will also explore the implications for patients, healthcare workers, and the defence of health as a public good.
The International Association of Health Policy in Europe condemns the prosecution of the President of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh) Faculty Union — Associate Professor Elias Kondilis, who is also acting President of IAHPE — and two members of the Union’s Board, on very serious legal charges.
The three academics and unionists are being prosecuted for participating in a recent Student Union demonstration against the new regulatory framework governing the AUTh dormitories. It is worth noting that university dormitories in Greece are still public and free of charge, hosting the most financially vulnerable students on campus. The new regulatory framework severely restricts students’ rights and shifts repairing costs onto these already financially constrained students. The three faculty unionists participated in the demonstration in solidarity with the dormitory students’ struggle.
The prosecution of the President and Board members of the AUTh Faculty Union (ΕΣΔΕΠ ΑΠΘ) is the first case in Greece involving academics prosecuted under the new disciplinary legal framework passed by the Greek Government last summer. This framework introduces stricter disciplinary measures and penalizes acts of support by faculty members for student collective actions that may be perceived by university authorities as “disruptive.”
The case of the three academics under prosecution in Greece is not unique in Europe. Many academics in higher education are being prosecuted or losing their jobs for expressing opposition to the genocide in Gaza, criticizing the commercialization of higher education, or refusing to participate in military research projects within their institutions.
The shift towards a war economy in Europe, the increasing geopolitical tensions and conflicts, and the subsequent militarization of higher education and research are pushing universities towards stricter disciplinary regulations for faculty members, restricting academic freedom of speech and academics’ freedom of social action.
As members of the Executive Board of the International Association of Health Policy in Europe, we express our deep concern regarding these anti-democratic trends.
We also express our solidarity with the three prosecuted Greek academics and demand the immediate cessation of all legal action against them.
Speaker: Prof Roberto De Vogli, Associate Professor of Global Health and Psychology of Power at the University of Padua, author of the book
Coordination: Dr Arianna Rotulo, Assistant Professor of Health Policy at University of Groningen
Introduction: Prof Elias Kondilis, Associate Professor of Health Policy at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, President of IAHPE
Commentators: Dr Pelin Gul, Assistant Professor in Social Psychology, University of Groningen | Dr Maeve McKeown, Assistant Professor in Political Theory, University of Groningen | Robert Dasovic, PHM NL
The new year is already characterised by the growing fears of humanity related to the threats generated by the deepening crisis of capitalism. Imperialistic antagonism, warfare and conflicts driven by geopolitical dominance and control over resources, are the causes of military invasions in several countries, zionist’s genocide of the palestinian people, imprisonement of propalestinian activists in Uk and other european countries, invasion and abduction of the president of Venezuela and more recenty the assassination of citizens by ICE in USA are all parts of the same ideological and political trend. The unprecedented rise globally of fascism and imperialistic aggression dismantling all regulations and international legal frame instituted after the II WW. The decision of the israeli government to deepen its genocide policies by revoking from the 1st of January 2026 the licences of 37 international NGOs [including Medecins Sans Frontieres] functioning in Palestine and providing elementary health and social care [including water]. Part of the same values and policies is the, globally spread, renewal and straightening of austerity policies continuing the destruction of the education, health and social solidarity structures in order to shift public wealth to the war economy and the relevant corporations. These policies and, obviously, the possibility of a world war [even a nuclear one] are directly threatening life, health and access to health care when needed.As International Association of Health Policy in Europe [IAHPE] we are expressing our deep concern for the escalation of aggression in the global setting and the dismantlement of the international law regulations.
We strongly condemn the ongoing genocide of the palestinian people
We strongly condemn the ongoing war in Ukraine.
We strongly condemn the unprecedented invasion to Venezuela and the abduction of its president.
We strongly condemn the escalation of fascist aggression against the people of USA and the ongoing assassinations of people by ICE
We strongly condemn the shift to war economy and the ongoing spread of more nuclear weapons
As members of IAHPE, scientists and activists in public health and health policies and in order to protect the health of the global population, we call for an international movement against war, a movement for peace, a movement for health as a social right
Speakers: Prof David Himmelstein and Prof Steffie Woolhandler, Distinguished Professors at the City University of New York and Lecturers at the Harvard Medical School
Coordination: Alexis Benos – Emeritus Professor of Social Medicine Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Elias Kondilis – Associate Professor of Health Policy, School of Medicine Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
This year marks 25 years of the People’s Health Movement (PHM) — 25 years of resistance, solidarity, and collective action for health justice across the globe. We celebrate this milestone with double feelings: deep pride in the endurance and vibrancy of our movement, but also profound concern that, a quarter of a century later, the dream of Health for All remains unrealized — and in many ways, further away than when we began.
Still, we are here, alive, and fighting, and that is something to celebrate! We didn’t want this moment to pass without lifting up the courage, creativity, and persistence of PHM activists everywhere — from struggles for access to medicines and against privatization, to defending reproductive rights, food sovereignty, and decolonized health systems.
We are delighted to announce that recordings of select presentations from the recent 19th IAHPE Conference are now accessible on the official YouTube channel of the IAHPE. These recordings feature insights from distinguished speakers, providing valuable perspectives on critical aspects of public health challenges under capitalism.
We invite you to explore and share these presentations within your networks to stimulate insightful discussions and catalyze ongoing research initiatives in contemporary and future public health issues.
The functionality of the pharmateutical system in Europe is highly affeced by variables related to its private property regime, posing great threats to its sustainability and the equitable meeting of people’s health needs. A transition towards the strategic development of a public pharmateutical infrastracture, in line with public health needs, could be an alternative solution to the above issues. For this purpose, intense and consistent political mobilization by civil society members and organizations is a vital prerequisite.
Organized with the support of many progressive health organization in Europe, the “Public Pharma for Europe: Strengthening Public Health and Advancing Equity” conference offers an opportunity for advocates, activists, civil society and all other stakeholders interested in public pharmateutical infrastructure to review current proposals and ideas, seek innovative solutions, and co-develop strategic plans for future action towards this goal.
The conference will take place on March 15th – March 16th 2024. Participants can attend in person in Mundo Madou (Avenue des arts 7-8, 1210), Brussels, Belgium, or online.
Tuesday, 23 June 2026
18:00–20:00 (Central European Time)
Online via Zoom
International Association of Health Policy 