We are pleased to welcome you to the final event of the PROGRAMMING COST Action 21122, taking place in Brussels on 16th of October 2026.
This meeting will present the key outputs and legacy of the Action, while fostering a forward looking discussion on how these achievements can translate into policy and practice. Together, we will explore practical solutions to improve and harmonise standards of care for older people across Europe and highlight the importance of interprofessional education and collaboration in strengthening healthcare systems.
The event also aims to reinforce the role of Geriatric Medicine as a strategic response to population ageing, and to foster dialogue between policymakers, the scientific community, healthcare professionals, and the civil society.
We are particularly grateful to the European Geriatric Medicine Society (EuGMS), as Grant Holder and key contributor to the Action, for its continuous support. This event represents not only the conclusion of a successful collaborative effort, but also the starting point for future scientific collaborations and initiatives within the wider research and clinical community.
The event will take place event will take place in Brussels at the Domus Medica Europaea, Rue de l’Industrie 24, BE-1040 Brussels, Belgium on October 16th, 2026. Official language is English.
Streaming
Open Sessions will be streamed on zoom at the following link: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/7rrPIyDFTIGgV1MFMmzkeA
Chat function will be available for comments and questions.
Registration
Registration for the event is free for both onsite and online participation.
Even though showing up to the publicly open sessions is possible, pre-registration is strongly recommended, whether you intend to participate online or onsite.
To pre-register, please use this link to register: www.us06web.zoom.us
Following this you will receive the formal invitation via the e-COST platform that we kindly ask you to accept by clicking to the right link, to officialise your participation to the event.
Video Recordings
Most of the event’s sessions, will be videorecorded and videos will be accessible on the website and social media of the PROGRAMMING COST Action and of the EuGMS. Acceptance of the e-COST invitation implies consent for recording and appropriate
Download Program.
Press Release
European experts and policymakers meet in Brussels to promote more equitable healthcare for older people across Europe
How can Europe reduce inequalities in geriatric care and ensure that older people benefit from high-quality care, regardless of where they live?
Brussels, 16 October 2026
Experts in Geriatric Medicine, healthcare professionals, academicians, policymakers and representatives of civil society will meet in Brussels on 16 October 2026 for the final event of PROGRAMMING COST Action 21122 – PROmoting GeRiAtric Medicine in countries where it is still eMergING to discuss how Europe can reduce inequalities in healthcare for older adults and strengthen access to geriatric expertise across healthcare systems.
Entitled “From Education to Policy Impact in European Healthcare”, the meeting will take place at Domus Medica Europaea, Brussels, and will bring four years of international collaboration to a close, while looking ahead to how the knowledge, educational resources and tools developed by PROGRAMMING can be translated into healthcare policy and clinical practice. The event is held under the patronage of the European Parliament, underscoring the European dimension of the challenges addressed by PROGRAMMING and the importance of improving care for older adults across Europe.
At the centre of the discussion is a major challenge facing European healthcare: despite major advances in healthcare, many older adults still receive healthcare that is not adequately adapted to their needs. Differences in the recognition of Geriatric Medicine as a specialty, as well as in healthcare professionals’ training in geriatric competencies and access to geriatric expertise, contribute to this heterogeneity. At the same time, many healthcare systems remain insufficiently prepared to address the specific and complex care needs of older adults. As Europe’s population continues to age, addressing these challenges is increasingly important for both the sustainability of healthcare systems and equity in healthcare. By 2050, nearly one-third of the European population will be aged 65 years or older, increasing the need for healthcare systems that are equipped to respond to the complex needs of older adults.
PROGRAMMING is a European initiative aimed at strengthening education and training in core principles of care for older people, particularly in countries where the field is still developing. The main outputs of PROGRAMMING will be presented, including the identified educational needs of healthcare professionals in the core principles of geriatric care and, based on these needs, a proposed framework and content for educational activities across different healthcare settings, i.e. primary, home, acute, subacute and long-term care.
However, the meeting in Brussels will move beyond education alone. Dedicated panels will discuss how high-level strategies can be translated into national policies and how scientific collaboration and civil society can contribute to advocating for quality care for older adults. Moreover, as high-quality care for older adults requires an interprofessional approach, the programme will highlight the importance of extending geriatric education beyond Geriatric Medicine specialists to doctors from other medical specialties, nurses and allied healthcare professionals.
The meeting will bring together experts from different European countries and institutions, such as World Health Organization (WHO), European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST), European Geriatric Medicine Society (EuGMS), International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics (IAGG), Age Europe and European Patients’ forum, as well as numerous experts involved in PROGRAMMING COST Action 21122 and in national health authorities from several European countries.
“As PROGRAMMING COST Action comes to its end, it is time to leverage its scientific outputs and impact and to reinforce the role of Geriatric Medicine as a strategic response to population ageing across all European countries. The next step is to translate the fruits of this European collaboration to clinical practice and sustainable policy”, says Marina Kotsani, Chair of PROGRAMMING COST Action 21122.
About PROGRAMMING COST Action 21122 (PROmoting GeRiAtric Medicine in countries where it is still eMergING): PROGRAMMING is a European research and networking initiative supported by COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology). It aims to strengthen education, training and capacity building in Geriatric Medicine, particularly in countries where the discipline is still emerging. https://cost-programming.eu/
About European Geriatric Medicine Society (EuGMS). It is a European professional society dedicated to advancing Geriatric Medicine through education, research, and collaboration, in order to improve healthcare for older adults. It is the Grant Holder of PROGRAMMING, has been a key contributor throughout the Action, and will continue to serve as the main platform for the continuation and further development of the initiatives launched through the Action.
Event information
From Education to Policy Impact in European Healthcare: The PROGRAMMING COST Action 21122
16 October 2026 | 09:00–17:30 CEST
Domus Medica Europaea, Rue de l’Industrie/ Nijverheidstraat 24, BE-1040 Brussels, Belgium
The event will be held in a hybrid format, and the sessions will be streamed on zoom at the following link: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/7rrPIyDFTIGgV1MFMmzkeA .
Onsite attendance does not require prior registration. However, due to the venue’s maximum onsite capacity and the fact that the event is fully booked, onsite access for media representatives can only be guaranteed between 17:30 and 18:30 CET.
The official language of the event is English.
