Malta will host the "critical" World Health Organisation European Region meeting for the first time next week.

Health ministers and senior officials from 53 countries will gather at the Hilton Malta in St Julians from Monday to Thursday to vote on an ambitious long-term WHO European policy for health and well-being, Health 2020.

The policy will influence European health policy for the next eight years.

It aims to maximise opportunities for promoting population health and reducing health inequities.

It recommends that European countries address population health through whole-of- society and whole-of-government approaches.

It also emphasises the need to improve overall governance for health through a clear focus on the social determinants of health problems.

"Health 2020 provides a unique region-wide platform for sharing expertise and experience, so that, at a time of economic downturn, we leverage our individual strengths and multiply our health gains," said Zsuzsanna Jakab, WHO Regional Director for Europe.

Health Minister Joe Cassar said Malta was very proud to be hosting a WHO regional meeting for the first time.

Malta applied to host the meeting at the 58th session in Georgia in 2008 and its host status was confirmed the following year at the 59th meeting in Copenhagen.

Dr Cassar described the forthcoming meeting as "critical" because vital decisions will be made which will affect the health of European citizens for the next eight years.

"To say lots of planning has gone into the organisation of this meeting would be an understatement," Dr Cassar said.

He said the Maltese government welcomed the Health 2020 focus on preventing illness.

"I have always said that we are the Ministry of Health, not the Ministry of Illness. We share the Health 2020 vision of focusing on prevention and healthy ageing," Dr Cassar said.

Health 2020 was developed in wide consultation with technical experts, member states, civil society and partner organisations, and the public.