The 2nd European Union Health Programme (2008-2013) is an instrument to implement the EU Health Strategy “Together for Health”, to protect citizens health today and in the future.
It has three objectives: improving health security, promoting good health – including reducing health inequalities – and generating and disseminating health information and knowledge. The Health Programme is managed by the European Commission and the Executive Agency for Health and Consumers.
Halfway through the Programme, approximately 230 actions have been funded, including projects, joint actions, operating grants for NGOs and conferences. Most are ongoing, but many have already delivered important results for public health.
For example, the SHIPSAN-TRAINET project is boosting the EU's ability to prevent and control outbreaks of communicable diseases on cruise ships and ferries. A manual was written that is now used as a model for the development of European standards for safety inspections, as well as for training purposes.
The ORPHANET project has set up a EU reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs. Patients and practitioners can access a directory of specific services, including specialist clinics, medical laboratories, ongoing research projects, clinical trials, registries, networks, technological platforms and patient organisations. ORPHANET is so successful that Japan and Brazil are translating the portal for use by their own health services.
EPAAC action brings together all cancer stakeholders (research, diagnostic, treatment) to prepare a joint strategy to fight cancer in Europe. EPAAC has already performed a detailed comparative analysis of existing National Cancer Plans, identifying best practices and potential synergies to improve cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Given these successes and considering that many high quality actions will be funded during the Programme's second half, we are confident that the EU Health Programme will meet its objective of improving the health of EU citizens.
