This report sets out a current review of the health situation in the 52 countries in the WHO Europe region, focusing particularly on child and adolescent health and development issues. It examines the major causes of the burden of disease and key preventable risk factors, as well as considering effective policy responses. The report also includes statistical tables used as the basis of its conclusions, as well as definitions of terms used.

In response to the call of the 48th World Health Assembly for a substantial revision of the International Health Regulations, this new edition of the Regulations will enter into force on June 15, 2007. The purpose and scope of the Regulations are "to prevent, protect against, control and provide a public health response to the international spread of disease in ways that are commensurate with and restricted to public health risks, and which avoid unnecessary interference with international traffic and trade." The Regulations also cover certificates applicable to international travel and transport, and requirements for international ports, airports and ground crossings.

This fourth edition of Health at a Glance: Europe presents key indicators of health and health systems in the 28 EU countries, 5 candidate countries to the EU and 3 EFTA countries.

The Member States in the WHO European Region met at the WHO European Ministerial Conference on Mental Health in Helsinki in January 2005 to tackle one of the major threats to the well-being of Europeans: the epidemic of psychosocial distress and mental ill health. These countries took mental health from the shadow of stigma and discrimination and brought it to the centre of the public health policy arena. By adopting the Mental Health Declaration and Action Plan for Europe they set the course for mental health policy for the next 5-10 years. Member States now face the challenge of acting on the principles of the Declaration and accomplishing the goals in the Action Plan's 12 areas of work. This book contributes to the achievement of this task by describing the current situation in the Region presenting the texts of the Declaration and Action Plan offering brief discussions of the areas of work (with examples of initiatives already underway in each) and describing WHO's plans to assist Member States in improving mental health in the European Region.

This report provides member states with essential public health information. It provides a picture of the health status and health determinants in the European Region and identifies areas for public health action for the member states and the European public health community.

During the last 25 years, life expectancy at age 50 in the United States has been rising, but at a slower pace than in many other high-income countries, such as Japan and Australia. This difference is particularly notable given that the United States spends more on health care than any other nation. Concerned about this divergence, the National Institute on Aging asked the National Research Council to examine evidence on its possible causes. According to Explaining Divergent Levels of Longevity in High-Income Countries, the nation's history of heavy smoking is a major reason why lifespans in the United States fall short of those in many other high-income nations. Evidence suggests that current obesity levels play a substantial part as well. The book reports that lack of universal access to health care in the U.S. also has increased mortality and reduced life expectancy, though this is a less significant factor for those over age 65 because of Medicare access. For the main causes of death at older ages-cancer and cardiovascular disease-available indicators do not suggest that the U.S. health care system is failing to prevent deaths that would be averted elsewhere. In fact, cancer detection and survival appear to be better in the U.S. than in most other high-income nations, and survival rates following a heart attack also are favorable. Explaining Divergent Levels of Longevity in High-Income Countries identifies many gaps in research. For instance, while lung cancer deaths are a reliable marker of the damage from smoking, no clear-cut marker exists for obesity, physical inactivity, social integration, or other risks considered in this book. Moreover, evaluation of these risk factors is based on observational studies, which-unlike randomized controlled trials-are subject to many biases.

People have always travelled within Europe for work and leisure, although never before with the current intensity. Now, however, they are travelling for many other reasons, including the quest for key services such as health care. Whatever the reason for travelling, one question they ask is "If I fall ill, will the health care I receive be of a high standard?" This book examines, for the first time, the systems that have been put in place in all of the European Union's 27 Member States. The picture it paints is mixed. Some have well developed systems, setting standards based on the best available evidence, monitoring the care provided, and taking action where it falls short. Others need to overcome significant obstacles.