The Ministry of Health has approved a new two-year cooperation plan with the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe for 2026–2027. Building on the long-term cooperation strategy through 2030, the plan aims to support the development of a resilient, high-quality healthcare system capable of meeting future challenges through public health reform, stronger prevention, digital transformation and innovation.
Key priorities include the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases, strengthening primary care, developing mental health services, accelerating the digital transformation of healthcare — including the responsible use of artificial intelligence — and improving preparedness for public health emergencies.
Our cooperation with the WHO Regional Office for Europe is more than a formal partnership. It provides practical professional support in developing areas that are priorities for the Czech healthcare system, from prevention and primary care to mental health, digitalisation and the use of artificial intelligence. By sharing international experience, we can implement solutions that benefit both patients and healthcare professionals.
Adam Vojtěch, Minister of Health.
Joint activities will include supporting the national strategy on obesity and healthy nutrition, further developing primary care, reforming mental health services and preparing a strategy for the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare. These priorities reflect the key health challenges currently facing the Czech Republic.
According to WHO, approximately 26% of adults in the Czech Republic are living with obesity. The country has also long ranked among those with the highest levels of alcohol consumption in Europe. An estimated 1.3–1.6 million people in the Czech Republic drink alcohol at harmful or risky levels — approximately one in six adults — with between 600,000 and 900,000 already engaging in harmful drinking associated with serious health consequences.
Reducing the use of tobacco and nicotine products also remains a major priority. Smoking causes more than 15,000 deaths in the Czech Republic each year, while approximately 2.4 million adults use tobacco.
Mental health is another key area of focus. According to WHO estimates, approximately one in four people will experience a mental health condition during their lifetime. In 2025, the General Health Insurance Company alone spent more than CZK 1.65 billion on care for clients with mental health disorders.
The plan will also include measures to protect health from the effects of climate change, prevent risks associated with tobacco, nicotine products and alcohol, and strengthen healthcare preparedness for epidemics and other public health emergencies.
The cooperation plan reflects our shared commitment to building a healthier, more resilient and future-oriented health system. Over the next two years, WHO will work closely with the Ministry of Health and national partners to advance public health reforms, strengthen prevention and adapt proven interventions to the Czech context, particularly in the area of non-communicable diseases and their risk factors. At the same time, we are committed to ensuring that the expertise and innovations emerging in the Czech Republic contribute to improving health across the WHO European Region
Zsófia Pusztai, Head of the WHO Office in the Czech Republic.
The Ministry of Health, State Institute of Health, Institute of Health Information and Statistics of the Czech Republic, professional organisations, healthcare providers and academic institutions will work closely with WHO to implement the planned activities.
WHO will contribute its expertise, evidence-based recommendations, international experience and strategic support, with the aim of strengthening health policies and improving the health of the Czech population. The partnership will also build on the work of WHO collaborating centres operating in the Czech Republic and support the exchange of knowledge and best practice across the European Region.
WHO Country Cooperation strategy, Czechia 2024–2030
Long-term cooperation strategy: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/WHO-EURO-2025-10862-50634-76594
Picture: @vwalakte, Magnific
