Tag: public health

The European Parliament's public health committee voted Wednesday (27 October) in favour of rules that could pave the way for Europeans to get medical treatment anywhere in the Union.

MEPs have rejected calls for a mandatory EU-wide 'traffic light' system for food labels similar to the one currently applied in the UK, much to the disappointment of European consumer and health groups.

Doctors and environmentalists believe the impact of climate change on public health has been largely ignored by policymakers as global leaders step up talks ahead of December's Copenhagen summit.

Clearer food labelling and awareness campaigns can help prevent an obesity epidemic in Europe, Liberal Romanian MEP Magor Imre Csibi told EurActiv in an interview. However, he said taxing high-fat foods is not part of the solution.

A study published today (7 January) reveals that measles remain a serious public health concern in Europe, casting doubt over whether the EU can acheive its goal of eliminating the disease from within its borders by 2010.

As the Commission readies to propose rules to improve cross-border access to health care in the EU, the 27 member states together with 26 other World Health Organization (WHO) European region countries have committed to more accountability regarding the way their health systems are financed.

Tackling health threats such as avian flu and ensuring safe, efficient and equitable access to cross-border healtcare will be top priorities of the EU public health policy agenda in the years to come, predicted the Commission's public health director Andrzej Ryś in an interview with EurActiv. 

Member states will need to adapt their national health systems to prepare for the expected increase in long-term health services due to the EU's ageing demographics, according to a new study published by the Commission.

A close relationship exists between age and happiness, argues a survey by the European Centre for Social Welfare Policy and Research, which also notes that high income, health, family and friends significantly influence wellbeing.

During her grilling by the European Parliament, Androula Vassiliou, the Cypriot woman selected to replace outgoing Health Commissioner Markos Kyprianou, promised that a controversial proposal on cross-border health care would be put on the table in June.

Daily exercise, moderate alcohol consumption and sufficient fruit and vegetable intake are known to be good for health, but researchers have now discovered that their combined effect can actually add up to 14 years to life expectancy compared to those who fail to adopt these behaviours.

To mark 'Universal Children's Day', the Commission has urged member states to do more to protect children from sexual exploitation and said it was considering criminalising the solicitation of children for abuse through the Internet.

The EU health strategy 2008-2013 focuses on fostering good health among older people and the workforce, protecting citizens from emerging threats and supporting innovation towards more efficient and sustainable healthcare systems.

The UK has launched a review of the National Health Service (NHS) to examine the impact of technology and lifestyle choices on the nation's well-being and to make the system more fair, personal and effective. Launching the review, UK Premier Gordon Brown also announced the creation of a new health innovation fund.

Road traffic is perceived as the most annoying source of noise pollution by residents of EU urban areas, a survey conducted in the framework of a European research project has concluded. 

The Commission is using the opportunity of this season's football Champions League to air a TV spot encouraging 'armchair footballers' and other would-be sportsmen to become physically active.

Research conducted by the Fabian Society, a UK-based left-of-centre think-tank, argues in favour of schools having their own nurse to help tackle child obesity, nutritional problems and teenage pregnancy.

"I want to see a comprehensive, complete smoking ban adopted all over Europe," said Health and Consumer Protection Commissioner Markos Kyprianou as he presented policy options for "smoke-free Europe".

PLoS Medicine, an open access international medical journal, recently published an article entitled 'Projections of Global Mortality and Burden of Disease from 2002 to 2030'.

EU health ministers call for broad action to tackle lack of physical activity, smoking, unhealthy diets and other 'societal' health determinants, as individuals' capacity to control them is sometimes limited.

The EU executive has launched a public consultation on the future EU framework for health services, to know where greater legal certainty is needed and how to support co-operation between national health systems.

EU health experts want to streamline health concerns across different policies at local, national and EU level. The Finnish Presidency highlights the need for more attention to health in economic and trade policies.

In addition to promoting 'Health in all Policies', the Finnish Presidency is expected to hammer out political agreements on Health programme 2007-2013, medical devices and advanced therapies.

The current obesity trend could undermine the central demographic assumption that everybody will live longer and healthier lives, says the Commission Director General of the DG Sanco, Robert Madelin, in an interview with EurActiv.