Together for Health: A New EU Health Strategy

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Together for Health A New EU Health Strategy
Nick Fahy Head of Unit C2 Health
Information European Commission Health and
Consumer Intergroup, 12 December
2007
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Todays presentation

• 1. Why a Strategy
• 2. Results of consultations
• 3. What the strategy is about
• 4. Strategy Objectives
• 5. Working together - implementation
• 6. What happens next

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1. Why a Strategy challenges
Health investments through Structural Funds etc
Projects funded Cross-sectoral work
Health information and Health Portal
Interactions with WHO
ECDC Organ Donation
White paper on Nutrition Communication on
Alcohol Tobacco control strategy
Pharmaceutical Forum
Health Services Initiative
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1. Why a Strategy?

• To ensure the EU is doing all it can to respond
  to Health challenges by
• Providing objectives, focus, strategic approach
• So far many (fragmented) actions and objectives
• Bringing different policies together for Health
• Ensuring that e.g. Environment, Education,
  Research, Regional Development policies work for
  health
• Complementing national policy with framework to
  work together on shared objectives
• Implementation mechanism

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2. Results of Consultations

• ?Two consultations in 2004 and 2006-07
• Health in All Policies approach
• Focus on health promotion
• Bridge health inequities
• Tackle global health issues
• Address ageing, technology, cross- border issues
• Develop comparable data
• EU, MS and stakeholders to work together to make
  strategy work

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3. What is the strategy about

• Four Principles
• 1. A value-driven approach
• 2. Health is Wealth
• 3. Health in all Policies
• 4. Global Health
• Three Objectives
• 1. Foster Good Health in an Ageing Europe
• 2. Protect Citizens from Health Threats
• 3. Dynamic Health Systems New Technologies

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4. Objective 1 Fostering Good Health in an
Ageing Europe

• By 2050 70 more people aged 65. Must adapt
  health systems to needs of ageing population
• The EU can
• analyse training needs fund some training
• exchange good practice on ageing policy
  measures
• Need to promote health in all ages
• The EU can
• promote healthy lifestyles
• raise awareness of health impact of risk
  factors (alcohol, smoking etc)

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4. Objective 2 Protecting Citizens from Health
Threats

• Pandemics, bioterrorism preparedness and
  response to threats
• The EU can
• Gather scientific evidence surveillance of
  threats, recommendations on e.g. immunisation
• Help to address emerging threats Climate Change
• Patient Safety 10 of patients suffer an adverse
  incident in UK
• The EU can
• foster exchange, promote studies, raise awareness

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4. Objective 3 Supporting Dynamic Health Systems
New Technologies

• Health systems under pressure (mobility, ageing
  etc)
• New technologies can revolutionise healthcare but
  must be evaluated and considered
• E-health can support safety, quality, access
• The EU can
• Provide EU Framework for Health Services
• Develop Health Technology Assessment
• Create Centres of Reference
• Initiate e-health pilots and networks

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5.Working together implementation

• Commission, Member States, regions, stakeholders
  to work together to implement strategy
• Commission to develop structured co-operation
  mechanism in 2008-9 to
• identify priorities and define indicators
• exchange good practice
• develop guidelines / recommendations
• measure progress
• Depends on comparable data and indicators
• Health Programme 2008-13 the strategys key
  financial tool
• Other programmes e.g. FP7, Regional Policy
  instruments help implement strategy

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5.Working together implementation

• All health actions fit into the umbrella strategy
  e.g. in 2008
• Green Paper on Health Professionals
• Recommendations on Patient Safety and healthcare
  associated infections
• Future Challenges Paper 2009-2014
• broader-long term
• consumer, health, food safety picture
• implications of change in way SANCO works
• can feed into way strategy is implemented

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6. What happens next?

• Council adopted Conclusions last week (6
  December)
• Member States in Council discuss implementation
  mechanism in 2008 under the Slovenian Presidency
• Commission puts forward implementation mechanism
  in 2008-09

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• Thank you!
• More information at
• http//ec.europa.eu/health/ph_overview/strategy/he
  alth_strategy_en.htm