poverty and health

EPSCO Council adopts conclusions on Child Poverty

At its 3188th Council meeting on 4 October 2012, EU Ministers of Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs (EPSCO) adopted the Council conclusions on Tackling and Preventing Child Poverty, promoting Children’s well-being. Very little different from the draft conclusions and incorporating key messages of the Social Protection Committee, the text calls on the Member States to maintain existing political momentum to address child poverty and social exclusion across relevant (...)

Promoting health in the future development agenda

EPHA took part in the Commission Consultation on the post-2015 Development Agenda. This was an opportunity to build on EPHA work prior to the UN Non-communicable Disease summit in 2011 and highlight the impact that chronic disease has on social cohesion and on the economy. It is becoming widely understood that there is a need to further elaborate on the role of the environment and environmental sustainability in the post-2015 Development Agenda. The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) aim (...)

Europe approves allocation of € 500 million of Food for the Most Deprived programme for 2013

Against the background of the European Commission’s own careful estimates of 80 million people in the EU at risk of poverty, the Commission has also stated that 43 million people in the EU are specifically at risk of food poverty - a number quickly rising due to the economic and financial crisis and sharp increases in food prices in virtually all EU Member States. The Food Aid Distribution scheme, which has been running for many years and helps the “Most Deprived People” (...)

EPHAC Press Release: World Food Day 2012 - Agricultural cooperatives key to feeding the world

On the occasion of the World Food Day 2012 themed "Agricultural cooperatives key to feeding the world" on 16 October 2012, the European Public Health and Agriculture Consortium (EPHAC) issued a press release highlighting the plight of millions undernourished people in the world. The statement also stresses the increasing problem of overconsumption and associated chronic conditions of overweight and obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer. World Food Day – Agricultural (...)

EPHA writes Open Letter to EPSCO Council to strengthen children’s health dimension of the draft Council conclusions on Child Poverty

In the run to the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs (EPSCO) Council of 4 October 2012, EPHA has sent an Open Letter to the Health and Social Affairs Ministers of the EU Member States to urge them to strengthen the children’s health dimension of the draft Council conclusions "Preventing and Tackling Child Poverty and Social Exclusion, Promoting Children’s Well-being". EPHA Open Letter "Preventing and Tackling Child Poverty and Social Exclusion, Promoting (...)

Eurobarometer on Social Climate in the EU shows decline in almost all Member States

’Special Eurobarometer 391 (September 2012) on Social Climate in the EU’ reports on citizens’ perceptions and hopes for the future, particularly in the areas of employment, social protection and inclusion, affordability of housing and energy and the costs of living. The overall social climate index is below zero, and only 10 out of 27 EU Member States (MSs) report being still positive about their current situation. Not surprisingly, Greece reports the lowest rating in (...)

EU Sugar Regime - should the public health community be concerned?

The European Union (EU) is the world’s biggest producer of beet sugar and the principal importer of raw cane sugar for refining. The EU sugar market is regulated by production quotas (dating back to 1968), a minimum beet price and trade mechanisms. However, the Commission’s legislative proposals for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for 2013 includes no proposal to continue the sugar production quota regime after 2015. An intense struggle is underway between EU sugar (...)

Saving Lives and Creating Impact: EU Investment in Poverty-Related and Neglected Diseases

‘Saving Lives and Creating Impact: EU Investment in poverty-related and neglected diseases’ is a new study by the Independent Research Group, Policy Cures, that argues that European funding for poverty related and neglected diseases will have a direct benefit on both developing countries and on Europe. The benefits are excellence in science, jobs, and health security. The study was commissioned by Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevoelkerung, a German foundation. Poverty-related and (...)

EPHA contributes to the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights on the Right of the Child to Health

At the beginning of September 2012, EPHA submitted a six-page contribution to the Child Advisor of the UN OHCHR, summarising various issues that are within its remit related to children’s health and well-being. EPHA highlighted innovative, relevant EU-level practices, as well as a list of issues to be considered when making the right to health of children a reality. After having received a letter from the UN Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights requesting input from civil (...)

New WHO study on Policy responses to the Financial Crisis

A publication released by the WHO shows how the response to the economic crisis across the European Region varies across health systems. The Study highlights the three main challenges facing policy-makers: Health systems require predictable sources of revenue. Sudden interruptions to public revenue streams can make it difficult to maintain necessary levels of health care. Cuts to public spending on health made in response to an economic shock typically come at a time when health (...)