I am delighted with the
results of the second EU
Health Prize for
Journalists. This year
saw a huge increase in
both the number of
eligible articles and
the number of
journalists who
participated. The
breadth and depth of the
articles submitted
reflect the immense
interest in health
issues across Europe.
I wholeheartedly congratulate
the winners and all national
finalists in this year's
competition for their
fascinating and well-written
articles. In the area of health,
the Commission's policies and
initiatives have a direct impact
on European citizens, their
families and their friends. I
see health journalists as our
partners in informing the public
and raising awareness of
important health issues.
Powerful journalism can change
perceptions and empower people
to take action.
With this prize, I am proud to
recognise and reward journalism
of this high calibre.
The winners of this year's prize
are a team of two Italian
journalists, Gianluca Ferraris
and Ilaria Molinari, writing for
'Panorama', with their article "Stealing
Hope". The winning article
draws attention to "healing
clinics" that offer expensive,
but unproven, therapies to
vulnerable patients suffering
from chronic diseases.
Czech journalist Lucie Hášová
Truhelková was awarded second
place for an article on organ
donation entitled "Love
Dwells in the Kidney".
A team of Danish journalists,
Kasper Krogh, Morten Crone, Line
Holm Nielsen and Jesper
Woldenhof, writing in 'Berlingske
Tidende', came third, for their
article "The
Great Failure" about an
individual's quest to change the
health system.
I would like to sincerely thank
all the members of the national
juries, the EU jury and my
colleagues from the European
Commission's representations in
the member states and the
Commission's translation
service, who have all
contributed to the success of
this prize.
I hope you will enjoy
reading the articles as much
as I did.
The EU Health Prize for
Journalists is an initiative of
the Europe for Patients campaign
and is funded from the second
Health Programme.
