Preceding the prize award and the award of the Hygieia Medal the Rudolf Schülke Foundation organised a two-day symposium on the topic: “The Future of Hygiene and Public Health in Europe – Needs, Challenges, Strategies and Concepts”.

Hygienists and microbiologists from Germany, Austria, France, Scandinavia, Poland, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, England and Italy participated in the symposium.Initially, the participants outlined the hygiene and public health situation in their individual countries. Subsequently the topic of hygiene and public health was considered in its entirety.

Regarding the medical disciplines across the European countries it can be asserted that there is a shortage of qualified new staff. Therefore the participants unanimously demanded better information for those studying the medical disciplines. Medical schools should put more emphasis on the subject of infections transmitted through water, food and in hospitals and further on measures to prevent infection (immunisation). The participants at the symposium also suggested in this regard that special importance should be given to the introduction of new teaching methods actively involving students in problem-solving (problem-oriented learning).

Additionally the participants called for centralised national and international structures and forms of organisation to effectively and comprehensively implement hygiene measures. It was noted that an intensive exchange of information across national boundaries would be of benefit for all concerned.

A complete report of the findings of the symposium will be published in select journals early in 2008.