3.I. Scientific session: Unlocking the true value of best practice portals: boosting their impact across Europe

Abstract What if decision-makers had immediate access to interventions that are proven to work - clearly assessed, policy-relevant, and ready to implement? Best practice portals promise exactly that. Yet, in reality, their transformative potential often goes untapped. As health systems across Europe confront rising chronic disease burdens and limited resources, structured access to practice-based evidence is more essential than ever. Best practice portals - or programme registers - are designed to collect, evaluate, and disseminate proven public health interventions. When aligned with policymaker needs, they enable more strategic, evidence-informed investments. Yet, many portals remain fragmented, poorly promoted, or disconnected from national strategies and funding processes. The result: limited visibility, reduced uptake, and missed opportunities for impact. To address this gap, seven countries have come together through the EuroHealthNet Thematic Working Group on Best Practice Portals. Their Aim: to identify what works, share lessons, and strengthen the role of portals in shaping public health policy and funding. Insights from this collaboration are now informing key initiatives, including the Joint Action PreventNCD, Joint Action MENTOR and activities under the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU. This interactive workshop presents the core findings from this European knowledge exchange. Through real-world examples and structured dialogue, it explores how national and European portals can evolve into more user-centered, strategically integrated, and politically visible tools for advancing public health and health equity. Participants will: - Understand how best practice portals can support more effective public health investment through evidence-informed decision-making - Learn about ongoing efforts to harmonize criteria and enhance comparability across countries - Explore how portals can be embedded into national strategies, and linked to funding instruments and EU-level initiatives. Presentation 1: Making best practice portals attractive to policymakers Kylänen (THL) will launch the Finnish Best Practice Portal at the EPH Conference, and Illustrate the value of policy priority alignment to enhance portal credibility and usability. Interactive session “Walk the line” Presentation 2: Linking evidence to funding Van Dale (RIVM) and Gouffé-Benadiba (SpF) will show how national portals are being integrated into funding frameworks, boosting both adoption and submission of practices. Interactive session “Elevator pitch challenge” Presentation 3: Towards Greater Impact: Strengthening Visibility and Alignment of European Best Practice Portals Hackländer (BIÖG) will introduce the concept of a “portal of portals” developed within JA PreventNCD. Lewtak (PZH-PIB) will highlight efforts under the Polish EU Presidency to raise political visibility for the use of best practices in public health. Interactive session “One portal to link them all” Key messages • Best practice portals are critical policy tools - when they are visible, accessible, and aligned with policy priorities. • European cooperation is essential to unlock their full transformative potential.