BLOG: Bridging Gaps and Building Trust | Reflections from IANPHI Annual Meeting on Social and Health Inequalities

By Alison McCallum | The Association of Schools of Public Health in the European Region (ASPHER) and Rishma Maini | Public Health Scotland

Attending the 2025 IANPHI (International Association of National Public Health Institutes) Annual Meeting on Social and Health Inequalities* was a powerful reminder of the critical role National Public Health Institutes (NPHIs) play in advancing equity and wellbeing. As representatives of Public Health Scotland (PHS) and the Association of Schools of Public Health in the European Region (ASPHER), we found the discussions both urgent and inspiring, grounded in a shared commitment to justice, trust, and meaningful impact.

Across three intense days, our focus sharpened on one pressing question: How can NPHIs advance equity approaches to influence population health outcomes? What emerged was not a single answer, but a constellation of strategies, rooted in community, humility, and systemic action.

Equity starts with listening

One of the most compelling themes was the recognition that our traditional ways of conveying health messages often fall short. Trust cannot be demanded; it must be earned through inclusive, co-produced communication that speaks to people’s lived experiences.

Examples from Ireland’s Pavee Point and Singapore’s misinformation-busting approaches underscored that successful communication begins with knowing your communities, not just informing them. The insights from Public Health Wales highlighted the pitfalls of over-messaging and the need for behavioural science to bridge the intention-action gap. There was also a strong consensus that communications must work hand-in-hand with structural support - words alone won’t change lives, we must work together to address real-world barriers.

From data to action

In later sessions, we explored how better use of data - especially geographically and socially disaggregated indicators - can shine a light on inequality. Yet there’s a caution: data must serve people, not just dashboards. As we discussed at length, too often, critical populations such as migrants or those experiencing homelessness are invisible in routine data. To address this, colleagues from Canada, Brazil and Mozambique presented collaborative approaches to addressing challenges in data collection, developing interventions, and creating impactful feedback that could be adopted more widely. 

Towards a capable, cross-disciplinary workforce

It was encouraging to see recognition of the value of sociologists, behavioural scientists, and community development workers in public health teams. As ASPHER advocates, our vision of public health education is inherently interdisciplinary. Discussions on building equitable capacity in NPHIs - whether through curriculum reform, community placements, or global secondments - aligned strongly with ASPHER’s own strategic priorities. 

A call to collective leadership

This conference reaffirmed that NPHIs must not only generate evidence but also act as convenors, advocates, and standard-bearers of equity. Whether it's food security, misinformation, or the climate-health nexus, our responsibility extends beyond health systems to the wider determinants of health. We need to continue embedding equity into all areas of our work - not as an add-on, but as a core function.

As we return home, the challenge is clear: to carry this momentum forward. PHS and ASPHER are both well placed to champion these ideas - through research, education, policy influence, and international collaboration.

One of the delegates words stayed with both of us: “Politicians don’t always see the light, but they feel the heat.” If NPHIs are to be the trusted, independent voices we aspire to be, then we must be the ones helping others feel the heat - with evidence, compassion, and courage. 

^{*Attendance at the conference was funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada}