Secretariat News April 2009

EPHA working meetings

On 1 and 2 April, EPHA was represented at the WHO Meeting on "Health in times of global economic crisis: implications for the WHO European Region". For more information, please click here.

On 20 April, EPHA attended the Working Group of the Civil Society Contact Group to prepare an exhibition at the European Parliament in October 2009 in order for newly elected MEPs to meet civil society organisations and find out more about their work. For further information, please click here.

On 16 April EPHA and EHAC, the European Agriculture and Health Consortium, met with Freshfel, the Forum for Fresh Produce Industry, to discuss options for cross-sectoral collaboration relating to the implementation of the School Fruit Scheme. More details will be made available soon.

On 28 April, EPHA attended a meeting organised by Eurocare with a representative from the Hazelden Foundation, a US-based network of treatment facilities for alcohol addiction. EPHA provided information on the work it carries out on alcohol policy and the prevention of alcohol-related harm, as well as on the organisation of civil society in the public health sector in Europe.

EPHA working groups

EPHA hosted a meeting of the Food and Nutrition Working Group on 2 April 2009. Topics discussed included Nutrient Profiles, Food Information to Consumers and the EU Platform on Diet, Physical Activity and Health. To read a summary article click here

On 15 April, EPHA held a Policy Coordination Meeting (PCM) for its membership. Updates on the policy and advocacy work undertaken by the organisation were presented and discussed with the members. EPHA also took note of the work its members are currently undertaking. The minutes of the PCM are available here.

The EPHA Alcohol Working Group met on 30 April in advance of the Alcohol Open Forum. The meeting offered EPHA a chance to discuss key issues relating to alcohol policy with its expert members. A meeting summary will be available online shortly.

EPHA, your ’eyes and ears’ in Brussels

On 2-3 April, EPHA attended the Global Progressive Forum. It gathered several high level speakers, including Former US President Bill Clinton, who all insisted on the need to think differently in order to recover in a sustainable way. To have more information, please click here.

On 2 April, EPHA attended the Friends of Europe Cafe Crossfire event on e-health, entitled, "can e-health ease the cost of an ageing population?" This event was an opportunity to hear what current opinions are around this very important issue that has such a key impact on long term care and an ageing population. The report form the meeting can be found here

EPHA attended the Plenary of the EU Platform for Action on Diet Physical Activity and Health. A full meeting report can be found here.

On 6 April, EPHA attended the Economic and Social Committee (SOC Section) on the employment and social effects of the current crisis. The invitation came as a result of the EU Health Policy Forum’s letter to which EPHA contributed.

On 23 April, EPHA attended the Plenary meeting of the European Parliament in Strasbourg on the Patients’ Rights Directive. This controversial Directive was actively debated in the Session and was finally passed. A report on the Directive an meeting can be found here.

On 24 April, the General Assembly of the Social Platform was held in Brussels. As a full member organisation of the Platform, EPHA attended this high level statutory meeting. A new management committee was elected and a new annual theme for 2010 selected: "Towards a European society that cares for all." The afternoon was dedicated to a discussion on the current annual theme of the Social Platform- "European civil dialogue;" EPHA’s representative pointed out the specificities of the health sector and asked the Social Platform to keep them in mind when defining civil dialogue between civil society organisations and the European institutions.

On 24 April, the Sherpa Group of the High Level Group on the Competitiveness of the Agro-Food Industry met to discuss the road map for the implementation of the Report. EPHA participated at this meeting. A summary of the process can be found here

On 28 April, EPHA attended a conference held by the European Centre for Health Assets and Architecture in London. The Conference was entitled "Credit Crisis or Global Depression: The Impact on Capital Planing and the Health Sector." This event was an opportunity for EPHA to discuss with experts the impacts of the credit crisis on health. A full report is available here

On 30 April, EPHA and a number of its members attended the Alcohol Open Forum, a multistakeholder event hosted by the European Commission. A full report will be available soon.

EPHA health advocacy

On 15-16 April, EPHA attended the Czech Presidency event, entitled "The antimicrobial threat to patient safety in Europe." The event was an opportunity for EPHA to network and to gain understanding of the issues facing European health systems. The full report can be found here

On 2 April, EPHA issued a press release on the issue of advertising of alcoholic beverages to children and young people. Please see the article, which was picked up by Euractiv and the EU Health Portal, here

On 17 April, EPHA and EHN, the European Heart Network, attended a meeting with Ms. Paola Pinho from the Cabinet of Commissioner Vassiliou. The meeting focused on the issue of nutrient profiles in the context of the Health and Nutrition Regulation and the position to be taken by the European Commission on the file. EHN and EPHA expressed their concerns in relation to the EC’s latest draft proposal. EHN, EPHA and BEUC, the European Consumers Organisation, will continue to monitor the developments on this file, with a view to ensuring that only products that are healthier overall are able to bear a health claim.