Wednesday, May 27, 2026

Health system under pressure: sustainability as a lever for prevention

How to ease the long-term strain on healthcare was a central theme at this year’s WeACT Con, a forum focused on sustainability in the health sector. Across several sessions, stakeholders from healthcare delivery, politics, science and payers explored how prevention and environmental health can be better aligned to reduce health risks while improving the system’s financial resilience.

Prevention and environmental health, discussed together

Speakers emphasized that preventive strategies, combined with a healthy and biodiverse environment, can address multiple challenges at once. One example referenced at the event was research describing an association between children growing up in biodiverse natural settings and a lower risk of allergies or autoimmune diseases later in life.

Contributions on climate change, biodiversity loss and related health impacts came, among others, from Kerstin Blum (Stiftung Gesunde Erde – Gesunde Menschen), Katharina van Bronswijk (Psychotherapists for Future) and Prof. Dr. Claudia Traidl-Hoffmann (environmental medicine, climate resilience and prevention). The program featured more than 30 speakers in total.

Health protection as a cross-sector task

Dr. Rüdiger Krech, acting director at the WHO since 2025, framed health protection as an issue that goes beyond healthcare services alone. In his view, health outcomes also depend on factors such as housing, fiscal policy and how schools are organized.

Policy debate on funding prevention

In the closing panel discussion, Serdar Yüksel (SPD), a member of the German Bundestag’s health committee, argued that revenue from tobacco tax, as well as from a planned sugar levy and spirits tax, should be directed toward health promotion and prevention.

Practical examples from workshops and symposia

Workshops showcased hands-on approaches for implementation. Dr. Matthias Albrecht (KLUG), Martin König (BKK Dachverband) and Dorothea Baltruks (Centre for Planetary Health Policy) presented the UKAM initiative, which develops practical guidance for more climate- and environmentally friendly medication use.

Other sessions discussed the role of rebate contracts in sustainable pharmaceutical supply, and explored circular economy and recycling options using a care bed as a concrete example. Participants also worked with experts on recommendations for climate-resilient prevention in urban settings.

WeACT Con as a sustainability network

This year marked the fourth edition of WeACT Con, bringing together decision-makers from hospitals, health insurers, politics, business and academia. The next event is scheduled for 2 and 3 June 2027. Press images are available via the organizer’s press page.