The 21st of June, the Council of the European Union has released more detailed information on EHU, addressing several critical aspects that are of particular interest. Here are the main points unveiled by the Council:
The Council is urging the European Commission to prioritize health in its upcoming five-year term. The conclusions approved by the Member States highlight the work already done to improve health policy coordination at the EU level, acknowledge ongoing challenges, and set out key focus areas for strengthening the European Health Union.
It is recognized that the EU’s health system faces significant challenges, including health workforce shortages. The European Council thus encourages Member States, and the Commission, to address these through investment, digital tools, knowledge sharing, cooperation at the EU level, and adapted regulatory frameworks.
Improving the security of the supply of medicines and medical devices is another key challenge. There is a call for continued work on mitigating shortages of critical medicines through the Critical Medicines Alliance, and an invitation to the Commission to consider proposing a critical Medicines Act to address supply-chain vulnerabilities.
Additionally, the establishment of an independent, needs-evidenced database to identify unmet health-related needs is suggested. Creating a voluntary, Member State driven mechanism for evaluating and prioritizing such needs and coordinating public support at the EU level could be the next steps.
The need for further action in preventing non-communicable diseases, responsible for nearly 90% of all deaths in the EU, is also emphasized. Promoting healthy lifestyles and environments through legislative proposals under Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan and strengthening the “Healthier Together” Initiative are key areas of focus.
For more information, please follow this link: https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2024/06/21/european-health-union-council-calls-on-commission-to-keep-health-as-a-priority/