The time has come to make European health a priority. Health is defined as a Member State competence under the EU treaties. Statistics show there is a wide gap between the health systems of different EU Member States.
Healthcare expenditures per capita in Europe differ considerably, the distribution of the health workforce and health care services are unequal. The situation has been exacerbated by the COVID pandemic causing increase of health inequality and migration of labour force in healthcare sector in European region.
According to Eurobarometer research, the majority of Europeans insist that healthcare should be included in the list of most important decisions.
Participants of the discussion will address:
- how current European health policy corresponds to the expectations of European citizens;
- – proposals on how to improve the state of Europeans’ health;
– how to create a European Health Union and establish it in the Treaty on European Union; - – the dangers of postponing European Health issues for the future.
ORGANISED BY: The European Institute of Health and Sustainable Development and The Foundation of European Progressive Studies (FEPS)
LOCATION. Hybrid. Brussels Network Office – International Press Centre, 1 Bd Charlemagne // 2nd floor
WATCH THE RECORDING HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yVqYw4Y5MU
Conclusions
A round table discussion “European Health Union – not wishful thinking, but a reflection of Europeans ‘ real concerns”
February 21st, 2022
The objective of the event. To facilitate a discussion around how current European health policy corresponds to the expectations of European citizens and how to create a European Health Union and establish it in the Treaty on European Union
Speakers
- Hans Kluge Regional Director for Europe, World Health Organisation
- Vytenis Povilas Andriukaitis Former European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety (2014-2019)
- Mario Monti President of Bocconi University, Former Prime Minister of Italy and Former European Commissioner
- Maria Joao Rodrigues President of the European Foundation of Progressive Studies (FEPS)
- Joseph Figueras Director European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies
- Christine Berling Head of International & European Affairs, Directorate General for Health – French Ministry of Solidarity and Health
- Ilona Kickbusch Founding Director of the Global Health Programme at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva
- Martin McKee Professor of European Public Health and Medical Director at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Moderator
Dave Keating Journalist, EURACTIV
Policy proposals. All speakers unanimously supported the notion of a stronger European health policy. Europeans are asking the block to do more for health and this is a must for MS and European institutions. A European Health Union (EHU) is evolving because of Europeans’ real concerns. The question what is a road map towards EHU is up to debates. Joseph Figueras and Ilona Kickbusch are indicating health related policies in line with current wording of European treaties as more pressing. Vytenis Andriukaitis and Maria Rodrigues are calling to have explicit references related to EHU in the Treaty on European Union.
The outreach
Total Audience – 2.86k. Total views and readership – 1.96k. Social media reach – 5.7k.
LEADING DOCUMENTS
- CALL FOR ACTION: TIME TO STRENGTHEN THE EU’S PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY POWERS, 9 of May, 2020 (Call for Action)
- MANIFESTO FOR A EUROPEAN HEALTH UNION (Manifesto)
- Explanatory Memorandum to the MANIFESTO FOR A EUROPEAN HEALTH UNION (Memorandum)
- Position paper. TREATY CHANGE FOR A EUROPEAN HEALTH UNION (Treaty_change_position-paper)
- FEPS POLICY BRIEF, March 2021. A EUROPEAN HEALTH UNION AS THE WAY FORWARD FOR THE HEALTH OF THE CONTINENT (EU Health Union_policy brief)
RELATED LINKS
- 2020-09-24 Webinar. Time to Strengthen the EU’s Public Health Policy Powers Manifesto for European Health Union https://eihsd.eu/2020-10-24-webinar-time-to-strengthen-the-eus-public-health-policy-powers-manifesto-for-european-health-union/
- 2021-02-02 webinar. Trends of Health Workforce Migration in the European Union. https://eihsd.eu/trends-of-health-workforce-migration-in-the-european-union-2/
- 2021-03-30 webinar. Healthcare workforce (HWF) policies and regulation on global, EU and MS levels. https://eihsd.eu/healthcare-workforce-hwf-policies-and-regulation-on-global-eu-and-ms-levels/
- 2021-02-02 webinar. Trends of Health Workforce Migration in the European Union. https://eihsd.eu/trends-of-health-workforce-migration-in-the-european-union-2/