Health

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Health

The European Union considers ensuring Europe’s citizens are healthy, safe and confident as one of its main responsibilities. Not only does the EU deem health to be a fundamental human right but it also recognises its strategic importance to EU competiveness. Since public health issues achieved its legal base in the EU in 1993, the EU has undertaken a range of initiatives to ensure and protect people’s health. As health is determined, to a large extent, by factors outside the health arena, the EU insists that an effective health policy must involve all relevant policy areas. Due to this mainstreaming of health, all EU policies are required to follow the ‘Health in all Policies’ approach as outlined in the Lisbon treaty (Article 168).

In the realm of health, an important job of the EU is to support and assist national and regional authorities in the health sector. The EU has a mandate to complement national action on health, because Member States retain the main responsibility for health provision and health care in their territory. The Commission does not intend to duplicate or mirror Member State activity, but instead assist Member States in areas where they cannot act alone. These areas consist mainly of:

Protecting people from health threats and disease
Promoting healthy lifestyles
Helping national authorities in the EU cooperate on health issues

The Lisbon Reform Treaty reinforces the political importance of health, so following wide public consultation, a White Paper entitled ‘Together for Health: A Strategic Approach for EU Health Policy 2008-2013’ was made available. This White Paper underlined the Community’s determination to grant its citizen’s security from health threats; health systems and technologies capable of meeting the demands of New Europe; and coordinating health responses on a global scale.

There is currently an EU Health Programme that funds projects and actions from 2008 to 2013. The priority areas for funding under the programme are set out each year in a work plan, followed by calls for proposals published by the Executive Agency for Health and Consumers. The Health Programme supports activities that improve and protect human health. However, different funding schemes are available depending on the type of project.

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Policy & Legislation - EU Health Policy

People expect to be protected against illness and disease. They demand safe, wholesome food, products and services that meet high safety standards. They want to bring up their families in a healthy environment, have safe, hygienic working conditions, and expect easy access to reliable health care when travelling abroad. People look to public authorities to satisfy these concerns. Consequently, the European Union plays a role in this field.

Article 152 of the Treaty on European Union states: “a high level of human health protection shall be ensured in the definition and implementation of all Community policies and activities. Community action, which shall complement national policies, shall be directed towards improving public health, preventing human illness and diseases, and obviating sources of danger to human health. Community action in the field of public health shall fully respect the responsibilities of the Member States for the organization and delivery of health services and medical care”. The Commission seeks to promote co-operation between the Member States, and may undertake initiatives, in consultation with the Member State(s), to promote co-ordination and common interest.

A High Level Committee on Health made a number of Internal Market proposals in December, 2001, which sought to acknowledge the impact of EU internal market regulations on health services and patients. National healthcare systems will eventually have to be fully compatible with EU Regulations. This raises some interesting questions regarding the free movement of services – are health insurance policies that specify application solely in one Member State, strictly legal under the Single Market? Work has now begun, with Commission support, to identify easier access to health care systems in other Member States. This offers huge potential for benefit between the Member States, identifying need, capacity and constraints, and ways of meeting need from each others’ strengths, for example.

After the increased political importance of health granted in the Lisbon Treaty, a White Paper ‘Together for Health: A Strategic Approach for EU Healthy Policy 2008-2013’ followed. This White Paper was based on public consultation and the strategy within aims to provide an overarching framework that covers both European health issues and broader aspects, such as global health. This Strategy has received full support by all EU institutions and is underpinned by 4 main principles and 3 strategic objectives, which are as follows:

The 4 main principles of the EU Health Strategy 2008-2013

A strategy based on shared health values

In June 2006, the Council adopted a statement on common values in EU healthcare systems. Within this statement they listed the overarching values of universality, access to good quality care, equity and solidarity. The Council insists that health policy must be based on the best scientific evidence and help reduce inequities in health.
“Health is the greatest wealth”

A healthy population is a prerequisite for economic productivity and prosperity. Spending on health should be seen not as a cost but instead as an investment. Health expenditure and the reduction of ill-health in a population are a key factor in promoting economic growth.
Health in all policies

Europe’s health is not an issue that can be solved by health policy alone. Other Community policies play a key role in delivering high standards of health and healthcare to Europe’s citizens, such as pharmaceutical regulation, tobacco taxation and environmental policy. It is crucial for synergy to develop with all health-related sectors if the aims and actions of this strategy are to be realised.
Strengthening the EU’s voice in global health

In today’s globalised world, collective leadership in global health issues is crucial. Global health issues have far-reaching impacts on internal Community health policy and vice versa. The EU can help contribute to global health through sharing its values, experience and expertise.

The 3 Strategic Objectives of the EU Health Strategy 2008-2013

Good Health in an Ageing Europe

The demographic change currently underway across Europe is that of an ageing population. By 2050 the number of people in the EU aged 65 and over will grow by 70%. The 80 and over age cohort will also grow by a staggering 170%. These changes will place new demands and pressures on EU health systems. To support healthy ageing will mean promoting health throughout the lifespan, whilst tackling inequities in health linked to social, economic and environmental factors.
Protecting people from health threats

A core part of the Community’s role in health is to coordinate protection and rapid responses to health threats globally and within Europe. Providing health security and protecting citizens against health threats is at the heart of Community health policy. Pandemics, major physical and biological incidents and bioterrorism currently pose potential major threats to health. Climate change is also bringing new disease patterns and health threats onto the scene.
Supporting dynamic health systems and new technologies

EU healthcare systems are experiencing a range of new pressures, from an ageing population and migration to the impacts of climate change. New innovations and new technologies are vital to meeting these new demands and challenges.

Funding for health projects are currently granted through the EU Health Programme, which funds projects and actions from 2008 to 2013. More information about this funding can be found here.

Calls for proposals for bodies wishing to participate in an EU health programme, are published regularly – these are notified through our Funding Bulletins. Priority tends to be given to large-scale projects with a Community (EU) dimension, and involving more than one Member State. Identifying likely partners can also be done by using the Partnersearch facility of the Brussels Offices, which puts potential bidders in direct contact with 170 regions in Europe. Contact us at the regional Brussels Office.