The Czech National Institute of Public Health (CNIPH) is a health care establishment for hygiene, epidemiology, microbiology and occupational medicine. Its main tasks are health promotion and protection, disease prevention and follow-up of environmental impact on the health status of the population. The main activities comprise science and research, reference and methodological advice, providing expert opinions on the health safety of various products (e.g. cosmetics, food supplements, items of daily use etc.), systematic monitoring of the environmental impact on population health in the Czech Republic, preparation of legislation in the field of health protection, including harmonization of Czech legislation with the norms of the European Union. The Institute plays an active role in pre- and postgraduate training of physicians and other health care workers and provides consultations to professionals working in the field.
The Centre of Environmental Health studies the extent of exposure to environmental pollutants and factors to identify possible health risks to the population from these exposures. It evaluates new procedures and technologies for safety, such as those related to drinking water treatment, materials coming into contact with drinking water, use of water treatment plant sludge, dangerous waste handling, etc. The Centre is developing new methods for identification of environmental pollutants or assessment of damage caused by these pollutants to the organism. Since 1994 it keeps a database on environmental quality and pollutant levels in the human organism. The Centre operates the Environmental Health Monitoring System and is involved in implementing the Environmental Health Action Plan. It participates in a pan-European project Environmental Health Information System (ENHIS), coordinated by the World Health Organization, and as one of seven coordinating units has been involved in the European project called WEKNOW (Web-based European Knowledge Network on Water).
Ruzena Kubinova is the director of Environmental Health Monitoring System, responsible PI for Czech team in study HAPIEE.
CNIPH will contribute to the WP2.3 (Health surveillance).
