ECTMIH 2023 - final programme

Timetable basics!

ECTMIH 2023 runs from Monday 20 November to Thursday 23 November.

The programme will consist of organized sessions, oral and poster presentation of abstracts presentations and a rich social, cultural, arts, sports and public engagement programme. 

The full programme will be available online shortly; in the meantime, check out the downloadable interim programme above and sign up here to be the first to hear about programme updates!

Monday 20 November

  • The registration desk will open at 15:00 and close at 19:00

15:30 Welcome and Opening Plenary

FESTMIH, NVTG, KCGH, UMC Utrecht, City of Utrecht and WHO   

We are at a tipping point where we do not have any choice if, but only how, we will transition into a new phase within the Anthropocene - and whether this transition will be anchored into principles of sustainability, equity, and justice. How do we make difficult, uncomfortable yet inclusive and transformative decisions? Indeed, halfway into the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), our primary concern must be how we will jointly forge a world in which we leave no one behind and “ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages” (SDG Goal 3) and to overcome barriers of translating our aspirations to reality.   

It is with this in mind we look forward to welcoming ECTMIH and WHO European Healthy Cities Network Annual Meeting delegates to this joint opening session of the 13th Congress on Global Health (ECTMIH). After a word of welcome from the ECTMIH team, our three keynote speakers, Professor Heleen de Coninck, Dr Renzo Guinto and Dr Francesca Racioppi will introduce the concepts and science of planetary health, and discuss the significant societal transformations we need to ensure our human and planetary health.

A musical intermezzo will precede the final section of this opening session: a welcome to Utrecht from the Mayor of Utrecht Sharon Dijksma, and CEO of UMC Utrecht Professor Margriet Schneiders. 

17:30 Welcome Reception 

The evening will commence with a Welcome Reception on behalf of FESTMIH, NVTG, KCGH, UMCU, City of Utrecht and WHO.   

Tuesday 21 November - Thursday 23 November

  • The registration desk, exhibition and poster areas will open at 08:00 and close at 19:00
  • Plenary and parallel sessions will start at 08:30 and end at 19:00
  • Side events with social, cultural, and public engagement activities (details will be released from mid-September onwards) will start at 19:30 and end at 22:30

NB Wednesday 22 November

Conference dinner 18:30 - 21:00

NB Thursday 23 November

End of conference party 20:30 - 23:30

Friday 24 November

Post-ECTMIH side/optional programme: a full day of events at locations inside and outside of Utrecht, including the Witness in Stone tour of KIT Royal Tropical Institute in Amsterdam.

Thematic tracks

The overarching theme of the congress is planetary health, focusing on the health of ‘human civilisations and the national systems on which they depend’ and reflecting the interconnectedness of human health and climate change in a rapidly changing environment. 

Our ultimate aim to accelerate the understanding, appreciation and connections between tropical medicine, global health and the urgent field of planetary health.

Thematic tracks

  • Planetary Health and Health Systems 
  • Infectious Diseases and Neglected Tropical Diseases
  • Non-Communicable Diseases
  • Mental Health
  • Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights
  • Child and Adolescent Health 

These six tracks reflect this focus, as we will build on global health traditions to emphasize the importance of health equity and universal health coverage to ensure all populations – and especially those in low(er) resource settings – have optimal chances of health and wellbeing.

Cross-cutting topics

Cross cutting topics in all tracks are:

  • Equity, justice and equitable partnerships
  • Prevention, diagnostic innovation, treatment and care 
  • Public and community health 
  • Universal Health Coverage and health equity
  • Health policy and the role of social sciences in global health research
TrackThemeDetail
1Planetary health and health systems Environmental health and exposome; climate change and health; One Health; syndemics; urban health; migrant health; prevention, diagnoses, treatment and care; public health, community health, primary care, inpatient care; universal health coverage and health equity; health policy; surgical care;
2Infectious diseases and (neglected) tropical diseasesPandemics and zoonoses; malaria; tuberculosis; NTD-20 list including Buruli ulcer, chagas disease, dengue and chikungunya, leishmaniasis, schistosomiasis;
3Non-communicable diseasesChronic diseases; cardiovascular diseases; diabetes; cancer; chronic respiratory diseases; auto-immune diseases; neurological disorder and dementia;
4Mental healthCommon mental disorders (anxiety, depression); conflict, refugees, trauma/PTSD; youth mental health; perinatal mental health; LGBTQIA+, gender and mental health; climate change and mental health; syndemics (HIV, NCDs, etc); other disorders (bipolar, schizophrenia, substance abuse, etc.); poverty and mental health;
5Sexual and reproductive health and rightsMaternal and antenatal, perinatal, postpartum and newborn care; adolescent pregnancy; contraception; infertility; sexual transmitted infections, including HIV and other reproductive morbidities; abortion and post abortion care; reproductive cancers; sexual and reproductive health and rights and HIV linkages; gender equality and rights; gender-based violence;
6Child and adolescent healthChildhood cancer; child maltreatment; children: improving survival and well-being; infant and young child nutrition; mortality among children aged 5-14 years; violence against children and young people; adolescent and young adult health; adolescent mental health; surgical care;


ECTMIH 2023 FAQs
ECTMIH2023 is co-organised by University Medical Center Utrecht, Universiteitsweg 100, 3584 CG Utrecht, Netherlands
Log in | Powered by White Fuse