Dear Bernard,
Thank you for your message. You are asking a good question. The size of the implementation will vary between countries to some extent. For instance, Norway is planning to implement
the intervention for the younger age group (12-18) in two municipality districts. Ukraine is planning to implement the two intervention packages (for the two age sub-groups) in 2-3 oblasts. If we are planning to recruit young people and deliver at least part
of the interventions in school settings, I would think that a minimum of 25 schools would be required for this to qualify as implementation on a “meaningful scale” rather than a pilot project. A larger number of sites would clearly add value to the project,
and allow a more robust estimation of the effects of the intervention. But it will always be a compromise between what is ideal and what is feasible in the context of a project like this. I am attaching a description of the intervention in Norway that has
been provided by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health for the proposal. This is comprehensive and well written, so you may find it useful to take a look at it.
Please, do not hesitate to get back to me if you have further questions.
Franco
From: Wa¶ko Bernard
bwasko@pzh.gov.pl
Sent: 02 April 2026 17:55
To: Sassi, Franco f.sassi@imperial.ac.uk
Cc: zhealth-mgmt zhealth-mgmt@imperial.ac.uk; Caroline Costongs
c.costongs@eurohealthnet.eu
Subject: RE: Z-HEALTH, Poland
Hi Franco,
Thanks for considering us as a crew member, will have deeper discussion about potential engagement with my project team
tomorrow, or Tuesday the latest and may come back to you with some detailed questions raised during the mtg. Materials obtained from Caroline yesterday has been already passed to my team.
Meanwhile, would you pls be more specific what you regard as a “meaningful scale” of interventions ? How many individuals
should be targeted/participate in the implementation phase in order to fulfill project deliverables in volumes and/or geographical coverage ?
I am pretty much sure I will be asked this question first
Regards
Bernard
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dr n. med. Bernard Wa¶ko Narodowy Instytut Zdrowia Publicznego PZH |
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Bernard Wa¶ko MD, PhD National Institute of Public Health NIH |
From: Sassi, Franco [mailto:f.sassi@imperial.ac.uk]
Sent: Thursday, April 2, 2026 2:53 PM
To: Wa¶ko Bernard <bwasko@pzh.gov.pl>
Cc: zhealth-mgmt <zhealth-mgmt@imperial.ac.uk>; Caroline Costongs <c.costongs@eurohealthnet.eu>
Subject: RE: Z-HEALTH, Poland
Thank you, Caroline.
Dear Bernard,
Thank you for expressing an interest in participating in the Z-HEALTH proposal. We would be delighted to have Poland on board in this project. The time frame is indeed tight, but
we can make it work if there is interest on your side. The proposal is well advanced now, so the contributions we will need from you for the text of the proposal itself are relatively limited at this stage. The core of the proposal is two intervention packages,
which are described in the overview that was shared with you by Caroline. The two intervention packages are aimed, respectively, at the age groups 12-18 and 19-25, corresponding to the transitions from early to late adolescence (age 12-18) and from secondary
school to tertiary education/ work/ independent living (age 19-25). In each of these two age groups, we have designed multi-component interventions that will aim at tackling the behavioural determinants of three sets of conditions typically emerging in young
age. These are: obesity and metabolic disorders; mental health conditions; and addictions (broadly defined to include nicotine products, alcohol, illicit substances, gambling, screen addiction).
What we would need from you at this stage is a commitment to implementing either of the two intervention packages on a meaningful scale in Poland (the EC would not fund small pilot
projects, but at the same time full national scale implementation is not required or expected, so we would need to aim at something in between). Whether you focus on the 12-18 or 19-25 age group is entirely your choice. We would be happy either way. We are
conscious that the intervention components we are putting forward at the proposal stage will be only a starting point, subject to redesign and country adaptation during the project. In particular, we have planned a 9-month period at the start of the project
in which we will be co-creating the final intervention packages with youth groups and relevant country stakeholders. So, the interventions that will eventually be implemented in each country may differ to some extent from the descriptions we will be including
in the proposal. This means that your commitment at this stage will not have to be completely tied to implementing an intervention package as it is currently designed. At the moment, we are planning to implement interventions in Spain, Norway, Germany, Slovenia,
North Macedonia and Ukraine.
The overall duration of the project will be 4 years, presumably starting in January 2027. The intervention implementation phase will start at the beginning of the school year 2027-28
(so, in September/October 2027) and the implementation and evaluation of interventions in each country will last for 2.5 years. This will leave 9 months at the end of the project for analysing the impacts of the interventions, developing and disseminating
guidelines and recommendations for further future scale up.
Please, do not hesitate to let me know if you require additional information at this stage.
I look forward to hearing from you once you have had a chance to consider this fully with your colleagues.
Sincerely,
Franco
Franco Sassi PhD
Chair in International Health Policy and Economics
Director, Centre for Health Economics and Policy Innovation (CHEPI)
Imperial Business School
London SW7 2AZ
United Kingdom
Email:
f.sassi@imperial.ac.uk Tel: +44(0)207 594 9157
From: Caroline Costongs <c.costongs@eurohealthnet.eu>
Sent: 02 April 2026 13:40
To: Sassi, Franco <f.sassi@imperial.ac.uk>
Cc: Wa¶ko Bernard <bwasko@pzh.gov.pl>
Subject: Re: Z-HEALTH, Poland
Dear Franco,
I had another short meeting with Bernard Wasko, Director of the Polish NIPH.
They are interested in participating but are concerned about the limited time available to contribute to the proposal's development.
Could you reach out to him for what is needed in this stage, so he can link you with his managers who will then consider options? Bernard is in copy of this message.
thanks!
Caroline
From: Caroline Costongs <c.costongs@eurohealthnet.eu>
Sent: 01 April 2026 13:41
To: Wa¶ko Bernard <bwasko@pzh.gov.pl>
Subject: Fw: Z-HEALTH, Poland
Dear Bernard,
As we just discussed, please find attached the PPT and information brief with details on the application to this Horizon Europe call, with the deadline of 16th April. Please treat this confidentially,
as the call is very competitive.
We hope that the Institute is interested in joining our consortium for WP 4&5!
These are the details on the call:
Thanks for getting back to us as soon as feasible,
Caroline
From: Sassi, Franco <f.sassi@imperial.ac.uk>
Sent: Wednesday, April 01, 2026 13:13
To: Caroline Costongs <c.costongs@eurohealthnet.eu>; zhealth-mgmt <zhealth-mgmt@imperial.ac.uk>
Subject: RE: Z-HEALTH, Poland
Hi Caroline, I include the PPT I presented on Monday and an overview document for the proposal. Please, let me know if you need anything else. Franco
From: Caroline Costongs <c.costongs@eurohealthnet.eu>
Sent: 01 April 2026 13:09
To: Sassi, Franco <f.sassi@imperial.ac.uk>; zhealth-mgmt <zhealth-mgmt@imperial.ac.uk>
Subject: Re: Z-HEALTH, Poland
Hi there,
For my meeting with Bernard Wasko, director of the Polish NIPH, it would be good to get the PPT with an overview of the project
Could you share this with me ASAP?
Thanks!
Caroline
From: Caroline Costongs <c.costongs@eurohealthnet.eu>
Sent: 01 April 2026 10:13
To: Sassi, Franco <f.sassi@imperial.ac.uk>;
Mojca Gabrijelčič <mojca.gabrijelcic@nijz.si>
Cc: Dorota Sienkiewicz <d.sienkiewicz@eurohealthnet.eu>;
Monika Robnik <monika.robnik@nijz.si>;
Katja Cic <katja.cic@nijz.si>;
zhealth-mgmt <zhealth-mgmt@imperial.ac.uk>
Subject: Re: Z-HEALTH, Poland
Dear Franco,
Will do and get back to you later today,
Caroline
From: Sassi, Franco <f.sassi@imperial.ac.uk>
Sent: 31 March 2026 22:57
To: Caroline Costongs <c.costongs@eurohealthnet.eu>;
Mojca Gabrijelčič <mojca.gabrijelcic@nijz.si>
Cc: Dorota Sienkiewicz <d.sienkiewicz@eurohealthnet.eu>;
Monika Robnik <monika.robnik@nijz.si>;
Katja Cic <katja.cic@nijz.si>;
zhealth-mgmt <zhealth-mgmt@imperial.ac.uk>
Subject: Z-HEALTH, Poland
Dear Caroline and Mojca,
After an initial promising conversation, BIOG have declined to participate in the proposal. I remember you said you would be seeing potential Polish partners tomorrow. At this point I would be inclined to try to involve them,
even if it is getting very late in the process. May I ask you to mention this to your contacts, and I will be happy to follow up with a call if they express interest?
Thank you so much for your help.
Franco