How to include public health practice and practitioners in a European Network

There is a wide range of different Public Health (PH) activities and programs running in Europe. Besides the richness of national traditions, differences exist in numbers of programs, methods adopted, types of engaged professionals, available resources (including public investments), awareness to the problem and finally in health indicators among and within countries. Promoting networks of PH practices and practitioners strengthens the possibility to share knowledge across organizational, sectorial and geographic boundaries, promotes adaptation and local implementation, fosters innovation in the form of knowledge creation by developing more efficient new services and by sharing effective practices within and between organizations and sectors. Nevertheless, strengthening existing networks and promoting new ones requires coordinated efforts based on complex adaptive systems and network science rules, along with the engagement of local, national and European health authorities. Given these premises, networking promotion and development is a promising way to improve health and wealth to European citizens and communities.