About: Health

EMA relocation should consider the wellbeing of all Europeans

The competition for the European Medicines Agency is not a horse race but the first concrete, effective decision the EU has to make in the wake of Brexit - and one with long-lasting consequences. A responsible yet ambitious mindset is therefore in order, writes Sandro Gozi.

Europe’s excluded are falling through the cracks of healthcare

Whether it is an elderly German man who lost his job or a young boy that reached Europe fleeing war at home, Europe’s excluded are falling through the cracks of healthcare systems, writes Médecins du Monde.

Tobacco Directive should focus on traceability and security

The considerable problems posed by the illicit trade in tobacco products are widely recognised, yet agreeing on how to provide an effective solution is still the subject of deliberation and delays, writes Nicola Sudan.

Tackle air quality for the climate and public health

The links between climate change and public health are staggering. By implementing clean air policies, governments can save lives and cut health costs while mitigating climate change, writes Génon Jensen.

Disrupted: The endocrine disruptor debate

The debate on hormone disruptors in the EU is more political than scientific. A decision to ignore the question of potency would cause needless disruption to regulators, industries and consumers, writes Christopher Borgert.

How will Europe’s health services cope with the refugee crisis?

Mass migration causes serious challenges, but fears that it will overwhelm European health systems are unfounded: we can and must adapt now, writes Helmut Brand.

Call for coordinated European response on tuberculosis

Every year on World Tuberculosis (TB) Day, the World remembers those who have died and the millions that suffer every year from of an infection that is both preventable and curable, write a group of health experts.

Killing three birds with one stone in the Arctic

The use of heavy fuel oil by shipping in the Arctic could have disastrous consequences. Banning this fuel would protect the region’s rich wildlife, improve human health and benefit the climate, writes Sue Libenson.

Assessing co-benefits could accelerate action on climate change

Despite the encouraging and historic climate agreement at COP 21 in Paris, politicians all over the world argue that quick climate action is too costly. But if they redid the calculation and included co-benefits they would take action now. And they should, argues Christian Friis Bach.

EU budget: When contradictions cost lives

As the European Parliament is voting today on the draft EU’s budget for 2016 in Strasbourg, member states are pushing for cuts to programmes to fight extreme poverty, writes Tamira Gunzburg.

The EU can help protect women’s rights

The world still has such a long way to go to meet women’s needs, MEPs Linda Mc Avan, Heidi Hautala and Sophie in 't Veld write, as this year’s World Population Day focuses on vulnerable communities.

What world leaders can do in September to improve the lives of the poorest

When world leaders meet in September to adopt a set of Sustainable Development Goals, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will make a strong case that health goals should be a top priority, writes Bill Gates.

Stronger than a mosquito bite: How to win the fight against Malaria

On World Malaria Day, it is important to realise that in spite of progress, for half of the world population, every day is still malaria day, writes Valentina Barbagallo.

From farm to fork: Investing globally in food safety on World Health Day

On World Health Day (7 April), European Commissioners Vytenis Andriukaitis and Neven Mimica highlight the importance of food safety, malnutrition, and fighting health threats both in the Union and in developing countries.

Health sustainable development goal must tackle inequity head on to succeed

The proposed health sustainable goal risk to be diluted into vague formulations not mentioning the right of all people to receive standard essential healthcare services, writes Nouria Brikci.

Achieving the extraordinary: A world without polio

?It would be naïve to feel safe from the threat polio virus poses to children everywhere. Critical action is needed by European leaders now to protect the world from this threat and realise the promise of global eradication, writes Geeta Rao Gupta, John Hewko and Bruce Aylward.

A rights-based approach to health is fundamental to the post-2015 framework

We must commit to strengthening health systems, as well as maintaining efforts towards eradicating communicable diseases, writes Linda McAvan.

New global development plan risks failure if it ignores young people

In 2015 – the European Year for Development – it is our responsibility as European politicians to make sure that the European Union and all EU member states ensure that gender equality, the rights of young people - especially girls - are central to discussions that will craft the new global agenda, write Sirpa Pietikäinen MEP (EPP, Finland) and Marie Arena MEP (S&D, Belgium).

The NGO health perspective at the UN Climate Summit

Positive messages are vital – but not enough says Genon K. Jensen. One of the consequences of climate change is the negative impact on the health of people. Jensen advocates to move away from coal and other fossil fuels towards cleaner energy in order to save lives.

The key to tackling population dilemmas? Empowering women

Today is World Population Day, a chance to reflect on the challenges population can pose. Whether a country is struggling with a rising or declining population, the solution is the same; the promotion of reproductive rights and gender equality, writes Jenny Tonge.

Strong data protection rules for high-quality healthcare

Health and medical data need specific attention when legislation on data protection is at stake. Patients’ data contain highly sensitive information and require particularly strict protection and security mechanisms against any unauthorised access, mismanagement, or identity theft, says Katrín Fjeldsted.

Medical devices rules: Patients’ safety must be reinforced

The inadequacy of the EU's legislation on medical devices was highlighted by several recent serious safety problems. In order to regain citizens’ trust, the European Union must reinforce its legislative framework, write several associations.