3rd European Conference on Indoor Air Quality
Indoor air quality in healthcare facilities – such as hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, and outpatient centres – has become an increasingly critical public health issue in recent years, becoming one of the key priorities of the prevention plans and programmes of the Italian National Health Service.
The growing focus on this aspect has driven important structural changes in the national healthcare facilities, such as improvement of ventilation and air circulation routes, careful selection of low-toxicity materials and products, better performing heating and cooling systems and more effective day-to-day operational management of systems and infrastructures.
To address this important issue, the Italian National Institute of Health (ISS), in collaboration with Geneva heath Forum (GHF) is organizing a conference to discuss current methods for assessing key chemical and biological pollutants in indoor air, as well as to explore effective tools for prevention, protection, and health promotion towards patients and healthcare professionals.
This conference is part of the European cycle of conferences on indoor air quality initiated by the Geneva Health Forum in 2023. The conference, representing the third edition of the cycle, explores the critical role played by healthcare facilities in promoting health and preventing disease through building design and maintenance, biological and chemical risk management, and sound operational practices. Our aim is to raise awareness of these issues among both academic and policy-making audiences — communities whose priorities and language do not always align, but whose collaboration is essential to progress on this topic.
The programme is structured to speak to both audiences, combining policy-oriented sessions with in-depth scientific content and practical, real-world perspectives.
The morning session takes a policy-focused approach, opening with keynote addresses — including the presentation of Italy’s National Plan on Clean Air — followed by an expert panel bringing together leading Italian and international stakeholders, including the World Health Organization. These policy discussions will be complemented by dedicated moments exploring the scientific dimensions of indoor air quality, alongside real-world examples of both challenges and best practices in healthcare settings.
In the afternoon, thematic roundtables will bring together a mixed audience of researchers and policymakers to discuss key priorities for indoor air quality in healthcare settings, with a particular focus on translating scientific evidence and policy considerations into concrete, actionable implementation.
This event aims to further advance the global dialogue on indoor air quality by addressing the crucial role in health prevention and promotion played within healthcare facilities. The conference will pursue the following objectives:
Exchange real life experiences and foster an effective dialogue between researchers and relevant stakeholders
Raise awareness on the importance of indoor air quality in hospitals and other health facilities
Develop concrete actions to improve indoor air quality and safeguard the health of all patients, healthcare professionals and caregivers
This event can accessed either through reception of direct invitation from the organizers or by registering online, from the end of October 2026 on, directly on the website. Please note that a registration through the website will become effective only upon confirmation of the organizers.
Since the goal is to ensure a trandisciplinary approach, we are warmly welcoming the following profiles to join us for the conference:
If you have any questions, contact us: lia.rinaldi@unige.ch
Images credits, from top to bottom: Canva, Pexels, ArchISS, GHF, ISS
