FOR BETTER PUBLIC HEALTH AND HEALTHCARE
Montecatini Terme, Tuscany (Italy), 7-9 November 2025
OUTLINE AND AIMS
Good Health and Well-being is one of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals that interlinks with societal challenges, such as poverty and inequality. Healthcare, environmental sustainability and digital innovation present challenges and opportunities for modern public health systems. The recent pandemic, extreme weather events and other natural catastrophes have stressed the need to create healthier living environments and improve quality of life. Sustainable design is one important challenge, particularly in urban areas, given population density.
This international multidisciplinary event will investigate the present state of public health policies and health care services across different medical fields, aiming to stimulate reflections on future directions in this field.
Recognising that sustainable healthcare solutions and planning and management of our living environment are fundamental to public health outcomes, the key objective is to offer evidence-based, practical solutions through specific case studies. Effective public health management requires more than just stated commitments — it demands concrete action, innovative solutions and sustained collaboration across sectors. It promotes an integrated approach to address not only immediate healthcare challenges but also long-term accessibility goals and sustainability and its impact on public health in terms of costs and efficiency. The initiative aims to bridge the gap between government promises and practical implementation, protecting public health while creating resilient, efficient and accessible healthcare systems that serve and may be accessed by all community members.
The multidisciplinary approach will bring together professionals from different fields. It will stimulate synergies between the medical sector, academic research, urban design, public and private investors, administrators, government entities, policy makers and legislators.
The event will focus on three core areas: healthcare accessibility and cost reduction, healthy environment and digital innovation.
CORE FOCUS AREAS: THREE WORKING GROUPS
1. Reducing Systemic Healthcare Costs and Improving Access
A critical aspect of this framework addresses the complex dynamics between private and public healthcare systems. Often, public funding proves insufficient to cover healthcare costs, necessitating innovative public-private partnerships. The focus is on:
- Prevention and Health Education initiatives, featuring community-based programmes for the prevention of serious illness (e.g., diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer), school-based health screening initiatives; “personalised care” programmes;
- Public-private partnership models, such as shared diagnostic imaging centres and joint surgical facilities, partnership between community healthcare centres and pharmaceutical companies to provide discounted medication, pro bono procedures provided by private surgeons in public facilities. The nature of the organisations involved in P-P initiatives;
- Integrated care coordination, including “hospital at home” programmes and community paramedicine initiatives; collaborative care models, such as community-based partnerships across local government, health services, housing, hospices, social care and the lay and religious voluntary sector; continuity of care and role of the family doctor.
2. Environmental Health Integration
This framework emphasises practical solutions in creating healthier cities and living environments. Environmental aspects significantly impact both public health outcomes and healthcare system efficiency. The role of quangos, regulators and corporate entities. The framework addresses these connections through:
- Environmental Health Assessment programmes, including neighbourhood-level noise, sewage, air quality monitoring, accessibility ramps and lead screening initiatives;
- Green Infrastructure development, e.g., therapeutic gardens in healthcare facilities and “prescription parks” programmes; climate-resilient healthcare facilities;
- Urban health initiatives, such as heat wave mitigation strategies, defibrillator provision, sustainable waste management, innovation and design solutions for the built environment and maintenance of public property, energy-efficient infrastructure, water accessibility, low traffic neighbourhoods, etc.
3. Digital Health Innovation and AI Integration: Benefits and Risks
The digital component of the framework focuses on two key issues: leveraging technology to enhance healthcare delivery and the ethical and social implications of digital and AI technologies, contemplating how legislation may deal with this challenge and the attendant security issues. It will address:
- Telehealth implementation, such as virtual consultations, particularly for rural and underserved communities;
- AI-powered clinical decision support systems; AI algorithms, prediction models, their usefulness and their potential bias or misuse; state-of-the-art on codes of conduct and regulations at national and international level (e.g., national, EU, WHO);
- Health data interoperability solutions, including unified patient portals and blockchain-based measures for sharing individual health information and data exchange on public health issues.
DEADLINES
Paper Proposals: Titles and 200-word Abstracts should be submitted to the organisers no later than Friday 22 August 2025.
Registration: Friday 19 September 2025
REGISTRATION FEE
The Conference Registration Fee is €680 (EUR) and should be paid by 19 September 2025. The Fee will cover 4-day en-suite, single room B&B Hotel Accommodation (arrival Thursday 6 November, departure Monday 10 November), light lunch, coffee breaks, conference folders, conference facilities and certifications (if required).
TRAVEL & VISA INFORMATION
Travel information: https://www.internationalurbansymposium.com/travel-information/
Visa information: https://www.internationalurbansymposium.com/visa-information/
ORGANIZERS
Dr Francesco Giovinazzo, MD, PhD, FEBS (Gen Surg), FEBS (HPB), FACS, Director Area Chirurgica, San Camillo Hospital, Treviso, and Director of “Con Noi Sulla Retta Via” – francesco.giovinazzo@figliesancamillo.it
Dr Elias Messinas, Architect and Urban Planner ECOAMA, Senior Lecturer, Holon Institute of Technology, Creator of ECOWEEK – elias@ecoama.com
Prof. Italo Pardo, Ph.D., Professor of Social Anthropology, University of Kent, and President of the “International Urban Symposium-IUS” – i.pardo@kent.ac.uk
Prof. Giuliana B. Prato, Ph.D., Professor of Social Anthropology, University of Kent, and Secretary-Treasurer of the “International Urban Symposium-IUS” – g.b.prato@kent.ac.uk
Dr Daniel Weisz, Podiatrist, President of the International Federation of Podiatrists and Head of “Wisefeet Clinic” – dani@wisefeet.org
CO-ORGANIZERS
Dr Gary Armstrong, City St. George’s, University of London – gary.armstrong@citystgeorges.ac.uk
Dr James Rosbrook-Thompson, City St. George’s, University of London – james.rosbrook-thompson.4@citystgeorges.ac.uk
PARTICIPATING ORGANISATIONS AND INSTITUTIONS
International Urban Symposium-IUS — International Federation of Podiatrists
EcoWeek — Con Noi Sulla Retta Via — Ecoama
