Towards better health systems: more accessible, effective and resilient
by Maria Iglesia Gomez, Head of Unit “Healthcare systems”, European Commission, DG Health and Food Safety
What is the most precious asset you own? Some of us are very satisfied with our car, our house, or maybe our boat. But I think that if we stop a little while and we reflect sincerely, we will probably agree that it is health that we value at most: ours and that of our loved ones.
That is why we spend so much money taking care of it. In fact, our governments put in place complex systems to provide us with the best healthcare. In DG SANTE we are committed to continuously improve our health systems.
In a Communication adopted last year, the Commission proposes an agenda to have health systems whic
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Also in this focus
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ICARE4EU - Innovating care for people with multiple chronic conditions in Europe
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ACT - Advancing Care Coordination and TeleHealth Deployment Programme
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EUCERD - EU Committee of Experts on Rare Diseases
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EPF - European Patients' Forum
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Europe, by ambulance: article by Elina Heino, 2012 national winner for Finland
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World Cancer Day provides the opportunity to raise awareness that there is much that can be done at an individual, community and governmental level concerning cancer. By working together, we can prove that finding solutions is not beyond us.
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Cancer is the second most common cause of death in the European Union – a figure that is expected to rise due to the ageing European population. The EU is very active in cancer research and recently published an updated the European Code Against Cancer.
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At the 26 - 27 January 2015 conference of the GAVI Vaccine Alliance, EU Commissioner Neven Mimica spoke about EU action and said that the EU has doubled its financial support since the last four-year period, by pledging €200 million for the period 2016-2020.
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Requested by the Commission, this joint report by the European Medicines Agency, the European Food Safety Authority and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control provides an unprecedented global view of the threat posed by antimicrobial resistance.
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The programme, co-funded by DG SANCO, was launched in 2009 to promote healthy eating habits at work and to encourage restaurants to offer healthier meals. Although it has now come to a close, eight Member States have implemented its strategies.
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2015 marks the 50th anniversary of the introduction of the first EU legislation on human medicines. Council Directive 65/65 adopted on 26 January 1965 introduced clear rules on the authorisation and distribution of medicinal products and some founding principles that are still valid today.
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The Commission, in partnership with the WHO, organised a review visit last November to the airports of the affected countries to give assurance on the actual compliance with the existing exit screening guidelines, the effectiveness of their design and the level of implementation.
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The European Food Safety Authority 's comprehensive re-evaluation of bisphenol A (BPA) exposure and toxicity concludes that BPA poses no health risk to consumers of any age group (including unborn children, infants and adolescents) at current exposure levels.
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The European Medicines Agency is preparing the database in accordance with the new Regulation on Clinical Trials. The public consultation which will contribute to the rules of transparency is open through 18 February 2015.
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On 18 January, the Commission announced €215 million in funding for eight research projects concerning Ebola. Vaccines and rapid diagnostics tests will be developed, and one project in Guinea is monitoring the ongoing crisis to learn how to best prepare for similar outbreaks in the future.
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New publications
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Are toys manufactured with chromium VI safe for children? That's the question posed and answered in this easy-to-read summary of the Commission's Scientific Committee on Health and Environmental Risks newly published Opinion on Chromium VI in toys.
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Hip implants can help restore mobility, but are some of them risky? Read this easy-to-read summary of the Opinion on “The safety of Metal-on-Metal joint replacements with a particular focus on hip implants", by the Commission’s Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks.
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Reporting from across Europe
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This regulation, the 'oncological packet', aims to help speed up cancer diagnosis and treatment to give cancer patients the best chances for total recovery. More information about the oncologic packet can be found on the Polish Health Ministry website.
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The Lazio Region recently set up these healthcare facilities to respond to people's needs and help them avoid costly hospital visits. People can receive some 15 types of common health services at these locations, including blood tests, echography and radiography.
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Forthcoming events
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Results from projects and joint actions co-funded under the 2nd Health Programme will be given and eight Member States will share best practices. The workshop is organised by the Commission, The Consumers, Health, Agriculture and Food Executive Agency and the Dutch Health Ministry.
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This conference, supported by the Public Health Programme, aims to assess and facilitate the implementation of strategic documents on nutrition and physical activity in the EU Member States in order to help reduce childhood obesity and promote healthy lifestyles.
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In the next issue
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Healthy Environments
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