Health
Czech drug policy shifts toward patients with rare diseases
The Czech government has launched a legislative initiative to improve access to most modern medications and rare disease drugs, Health Minister Adam Vojtěch told EURACTIV in an interview, adding that patients are involved in the decision-making process at a very early stage, including in drafting the law.
Vaccines are victim of their own success, global health expert says
One of the reasons behind the decline in vaccine confidence is that people have gotten complacent, as diseases that have killed millions of people aren’t here anymore due to the success of vaccination, an epidemiologist told EURACTIV.
FAO official: ‘Veganism is certainly not for everyone’
Veganism is certainly not for everyone, particularly when it comes to mother and children, as it is deficient in some important minerals and vitamins, Henning Steinfeld, an official from the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), told EURACTIV in an interview.
Navracsics: ‘Health lifestyle is more than sport’
EU Sport Commissioner Tibor Navracsics praised the involvement of "a wide range of actors" in promoting physical activity in Europe, and called on the private sector to ensure that healthy choices are easier and more affordable for everyone.
Greek pharma boss: ‘We reached our limits, our sustainability is at stake’
The Greek pharmaceutical industry has reached its limits due to a number of “unreasonable” burdens imposed by the government during the crisis, Greek pharma chief Olympios Papadimitriou told EURACTIV.com in an interview. The sustainability of pharma companies is at stake, threatening 86,000 jobs, he said.Promoted content
Time for a European game-changing movement on infertility
Fertility Europe – the umbrella organisation for infertility patient associations – is launching the 3rd edition of the European Fertility Week from 5-11 November 2018 to raise awareness about the issues faced by all those experiencing infertility.
Expert: Life-course immunisation will save costs and lives
The adoption of a life-course immunisation approach in the EU will have significant multi-level effects, ranging from a healthier population to savings in healthcare budgets, Professor Daphné Holt told EURACTIV.com.
Healthy buildings expert: ‘Homes cause hurricanes’
At the Healthy Buildings Day (HBD) in Brussels last week (26 September), academic experts painted a vivid picture of how the edifices we spend our days in shape our lives and the planet itself.
EFSA boss: Our advice should not be misused for short-term political interests
The selective approach of some campaign groups regarding the credibility of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) results in a “general erosion of trust” in the bodies designed to protect public health, EFSA director Bernhard Url told EURACTIV.com in an interview.
JTI boss: EU Scientific Advisory Mechanism could adjust tobacco directive to reality
The next European Commission should enhance its collaboration with the EU’s Scientific Advisory Mechanism (SAM), which would provide bias-free consultancy and eventually adjust the Tobacco Product Directive to the reality, JTI’s Ramunas Macius said in an interview with EURACTIV.com.
Professor: EU should establish roadmap for hepatitis C virus elimination
Eliminating hepatitis C should be tackled at EU level by establishing a clear political road map and mobilising public and private funding, Angelos Hatzakis told EURACTIV in an interview.
Investment in digital health and access to drugs at the core of Austrian Presidency
Austria’s EU Presidency will focus on “strong” investment in digital health as well as on regulatory issues when it comes to access to medicines, Dr Clemens Martin Auer told EURACTIV.com in an interview. Dr Clemens Martin Auer is the president of the...
EFPIA President: Next EU Commission should prioritise competitiveness in pharma innovation
The next European Commission should focus on the bloc’s role in the global context of innovation, as China is “decisive” about creating a reliable framework for intellectual property and connecting biotech start-ups and digital companies, EFPIA’s President Stefan Oschmann told EURACTIV.com in an interview.
Pharma expert: Combination vaccines reduce the cost of outbreaks and treatments
The use of combination vaccines can bring about better vaccine coverage and this will improve protection of the public against vaccine-preventable diseases, reduce costs for treatment of these diseases and help prevent outbreaks that would otherwise occur, Mel Kohn told EURACTIV.com.
Expert: Animal health innovations will benefit both farming and society
An innovation-driven approach – ranging from vaccination to other health management solutions and appropriate biosecurity measures – will ensure more sustainable future livestock farming and protection of public health, as animal diseases do not recognise borders, Roxane Feller told EURACTIV.com.
Pharma boss: Incentives based on outcomes will optimise EU healthcare
An outcomes-based approach for incentives in the pharmaceutical sector would help optimise the entire healthcare systems, Nathalie Moll told EURACTIV.com in an interview.
EFSA boss: EU food law overhaul ‘a big step towards transparency’
The European Commission has learned its lesson from the glyphosate controversy and is coming forward with “bold proposals” on transparency, says Bernhard Url. The raw data of all industry-funded studies related to pesticides will be made publicly available under Commission plans, he told EURACTIV in an interview.
ECDC chief: Bigger social media presence needed to fight anti-vaccines fake news
Public health authorities at EU and national level have started working to “occupy more of the space on social media”, as it is currently almost entirely taken up by people who are against vaccination, Dr Andrea Ammon told EURACTIV.com in an interview.
Generic industry boss: SPC manufacturing waiver won’t harm originators’ innovation
The generic industry’s request for an SPC (supplementary protection certificates) manufacturing waiver, which would allow them to produce in the EU SPC-protected drugs for other markets, does not influence or harm innovators’ rights, Marc–Alexander Mahl told EURACTIV.com in an interview. He...
Pernod Ricard CEO: Alcohol tax ‘penalises’ responsible consumers
The decision to raise excise taxes on alcohol “penalises” the majority of consumers who drink responsibly, while those who have issues with alcohol will be unaffected as they will keep on drinking excessively, Alexandre Ricard told EURACTIV.com in an interview.
Energy poverty chairman: Extreme summer heat could provide wake-up call
Two out of three EU countries do not measure energy poverty but a new observatory launched on Monday (29 January) should provide member states with the information they need to address a problem that could affect more than 100 million people in Europe, says the chair of the EU's Energy Poverty Observatory.
Health expert: Europe should not put its dominant pharma innovation at risk
The European Union should not create an environment more favourable to generics compared to the innovative pharmaceuticals, as it risks weakening Europe’s overall global strength in pharmaceuticals and in research, Professor Adrian Towse told EURACTIV.com in an interview.
Julie Girling MEP: ‘Most of us look for evidence that supports our own opinions’
When coming up with policy, EU officials and lawmakers have a variety of sources to call upon for scientific advice. But how useful is the information and how effective is the system in place? Julie Girling explained how she uses evidence in her day-to-day life as an MEP.