The Pontifical Academy for Life will hold the international workshop “Healthcare for All. Sustainability and Equity” in Rome on February 16‑17, 2026 at the Augustinianum Institute. The event will bring together experts from around the world to discuss sustainability and equity in health systems, key issues in ensuring the right to health for all people.
Over two days, global leaders, representatives from international organizations, and academics will analyze real-world experiences and contemporary challenges in healthcare access. Sessions will include testimonies from different continents on care for vulnerable populations, access to essential medicines, and strategies to strengthen primary care as the foundation of a sustainable health system.
Confirmed speakers include Francesca Colombo (OECD, France) and Sheila Tlou (Botswana), offering global perspectives on how to integrate sustainability and equity indicators into health policies.
The program also includes a Papal audience for participants, highlighting the Church’s commitment to defending life and promoting universal access to health as a fundamental human right.
The Thank You Doctor campaign team will be present at the workshop, presenting the initiative and sharing the vision of publicly recognizing the work of healthcare professionals worldwide. Their participation emphasizes the importance of supporting doctors and healthcare workers as essential actors in building more just, humane, and sustainable health systems.
This event is part of the broader mission of the Pontifical Academy for Life to promote interdisciplinary dialogue on bioethics and health systems that respect human dignity at all stages of life.