The conference "Community, Loneliness, and Social Prescribing," held on April 22, 2026, at Sapienza University of Rome, represented an important milestone for the presentation and discussion of the Italian Recommendations on Social Prescribing and Proactive Communities. The event brought together national and international stakeholders to address the growing challenges of loneliness and social isolation through community-based healthcare approaches.
Current network participants include: WHO Europe, Venice, Italy; WONCA Europe; WONCA Europe Special Interest Group on Social Prescribing and Community Orientation; ASIQUAS, Italian Association for the Quality of Health and Social Care; DiSSE, Department of Social and Economic Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome; Alliance for the Reform of Primary Care/Blue Book; Cittadinanzattiva; Mario Negri Institute IRCCS Milan; CARD, Confederation of Regional Associations of District Managers; MES, Healthcare Management Laboratory, of the ISSSUP; the Tuscany Region and the Emilia-Romagna Region. Representatives of institutions, institutes, research centers, universities, non-profit organizations, associations, and scientific societies also participated, presenting their projects, documents, and institutional materials as partners of the Italian network.
The international dimension of the conference was further strengthened by the presence of Luigi Bertinato, representing WHO Europe, who moderated the panel on "The Contribution of International Experiences," emphasizing the strategic importance of social prescription within European public health policies.
This panel featured distinguished international experts, including Yongjie Yon (WHO Europe, Ageing and Health Programme), Odd N. Hanssen (WHO Europe, Advisor on the Economics of Wellbeing), Ferdinando Petrazzuoli and Joyce Kenkre (representing WONCA Europe and the WONCA Europe Special Interest Group on Social Prescribing and Community Orientation), Vania Putatti (EuroHealthNet), Juan Manuel Mendive (Catalan Institute of Health, University of Barcelona), Jenny Hartnoll (consultant in social prescribing and community development), and Amrita Jesurasa (Public Health Wales).
A particularly notable contribution came from WONCA Europe, represented by Ferdinando Petrazzuoli and Joyce Kenkre, who spoke on behalf of both WONCA Europe and its Special Interest Group on Social Prescribing and Community Orientation. This dual representation highlighted family medicine's strong commitment to promoting social prescribing and community-focused care across Europe, underscoring the key role of primary care in addressing the social determinants of health.
Overall, the conference successfully fostered dialogue between institutions, professionals, and international organizations. The active involvement of WONCA Europe, its Special Interest Group on Social Prescribing and Community Orientation, and WHO Europe strengthened the exchange of best practices and supported the integration of social prescribing into health systems as an effective response to loneliness and health inequalities.
For the full program and list of speakers, click here.
Annex.
Italian Recommendations on proactive communities and social prescribing and annex
conference "Communities, loneliness, health" | Department of Social and Economic Sciences