The public timeline
The summit was announced for Kaohsiung, Taiwan, and then adapted as the coronavirus pandemic changed the conditions for international travel. The milestones below mark the main public changes.
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8 January 2020
Abstract submissions opened
The call invited work that could inform health literacy research, practice, and policy.
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13 March 2020
Early registration opened
Delegates could register at the early rate, with reduced categories for members, students, and patient advocates.
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19 May 2020
A statement to the World Health Organization
The International Health Literacy Association published a statement to the Director General on the importance of health literacy.
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11 June 2020
The summit was rescheduled
The organizers announced new dates of 3 to 5 October 2021 after postponing the original gathering because of the pandemic.
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16 June 2020
June updates published
The secretariat shared a progress update with the wider community.
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19 June 2020
A webinar on misinformation and empowerment
The association hosted an online discussion about moving from confusion toward informed action.
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20 July 2020
A webinar on Taiwan's public health response
The session examined communication, coordination, and resilience during the early phase of the pandemic.
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28 February 2021
Abstract deadline extended
The final abstract deadline moved to 28 February 2021, with times set in GMT plus 8.
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1 July 2021
Early registration closed
Delegates who registered later moved to the standard rate.
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3 to 5 October 2021
The summit dates
The program was set to bring the five plenary themes together in Kaohsiung and online.
What changed and what stayed
The postponement changed the calendar and the format, but not the purpose. Abstracts that had already been submitted remained valid for the new dates. Delegates who had registered and paid had their registration transferred to the 2021 event. The organizers kept the program open and extended the abstract deadline to reflect the disruption many authors were facing.
The pandemic also sharpened the relevance of the program. Clear public communication, trust, and equitable access to information moved from the margins of the discussion to its center.
A record, not a live feed
This page is an editorial record of the inaugural summit. It does not announce new dates or open a new registration period. For current information about the association and its activities, visit the International Health Literacy Association.
For questions about the record, contact the secretariat through the contact page. Program details are on the program page.