public health

The SPHERE Project - Strengthening Public Health Research in Europe

This EU supported project aims to examine the ways and means by which research priorities in the field of public health at the European level can be identified.
The SPHERE project started in January 2005, under the leadership of the Faculty of Public Health of the Royal College of Physicians of the United Kingdom. EPHA is one of the partners together with the following organisations:
European Public Health Association (EUPHA)
National School of Public Health (Lisbon, Portugal)
National (...)

EPHA communicated position on GMOs to all Commissioners, May 2008

On 5 May 2008, EPHA contacted EU Commissioners, informing them of EPHA’s position regarding Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).
On 10 June 2008, EPHA received an official response from Commissioner Louis Michel thanking EPHA for the letter which allowed a ’decision making process with sound knowledge of the position of all concerned’.
EPHA would like to thank Commissioner Michel for considering public health in this debate.
EPHA’s letter sent to all Commissioners on 5 May 2008 was (...)

Nordic Plan of Action on Health, Food and Physical Activity

The Nordic Council of Ministers have released an Action Plan on health, food and physical activity which includes specific Nordic initiatives as well as a number of common positions on issues that are currently being discussed in the EU and WHO.
The Nordic Plan of Action is a joint venture between two ministries of the Nordic Council - the ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Agriculture, Foodstuffs, and Forestry and the ministry for Social Security and Health Care.
The Nordic Action (...)

The EU Platform for Action on Diet, Physical Activity and Health - An Insider’s Perspective

Obesity is one of the most serious health challenges facing Europe today. European Union (EU) citizens are exercising too little and eating too much - too much energy, too many calories, too much fat and sugar, and salt. The main consequence is a sustained, acute EU-wide increase in overweight and obesity. The increase is particularly severe for children and adolescents.
The EU has an important role to play in containing or reversing the current trend. EU policy affects food safety, (...)

Why do Europeans participate in civil society? A Eurofound report

Based on the 2003 European Quality of Life Survey, the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Eurofound) has published a more in depth report regarding Europeans’ participation in civil society.
The report entitled "First European Quality of Life Survey: Participation in civil society", provides an analysis of why some people are engaged in civil society and why others are not.
According to the report a total of 95% of Europeans participate in either (...)

Prevalence of TB and Inequalities in Health Care for Roma in Europe

This article gives details of two new reports regarding the health of Roma people in Europe. Firstly the prevalence of TB in Roma communities is addressed in the report Confronting a Hidden Disease: TB in Roma Communities, and secondly, the inequalities in health services is highlighted in a report by the European Roma Rights Centre
TB in Roma Communities
Confronting a Hidden Disease: TB in Roma Communities is a new report by Marta Schaaf of the World Lung Foundation, on behalf of the Open (...)

WHO to focus on Women’s Health

In line with Women’s International Day on the 8th March 2007, The World Health Organisation (WHO) has decided to focus on women’s health. WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan has vowed to improve the health of women everywhere. WHO has also recently published a report on Gender equality, work and health: A review of the evidence (2006), which summarises evidence regarding the relationship between gender inequality and health and safety problems related to work.
Mental Health Europe press (...)

Health included in UNICEF report on Child Well-being

The UNICEF launched the 7th Innocenti Report Card on the well-being of children in rich countries. For the first time the Report Card considers children’s health as an important dimension for assessing child well-being.
The report "Child Poverty in Perspective: An overview of child well-being in rich countries-" offers a comprehensive assessment of the lives and well-being of children and adolescents in the World’s economically advanced nations, based on the UN Convention on the Rights of (...)

WHO/Europe suggest improvements for regulations on housing and health

The World Health Organisation European branch has carried out a review of housing and health regulations in selected European countries with cooperation and support from the French Ministry of Health, the Region Emilia Romagna and the city of Forlì (Italy).
The WHO’s Housing and Health programme aims to highlight the relationship betwen housing conditions and the health status of European citizens, as well as propose effective strategies that ensure housing conditions positively (...)

**UPDATED** Making your voice heard in the EU - A guide for NGOs - Now also in Italian and Spanish

The Civil Society Contact Group, of which EPHA is a member, has published a new training handbook “Making your voice heard in the EU - A guide for NGOs”. The handbook can be downloaded for free, in 8 European languages.
It is specifically designed for relatively new NGOs and activists that are in the process of establishing a European strategy.
The handbook provides information on EU institutions, the way European NGOs work, as well as lobbying “tips”, illustrated by (...)

Marketing Practices and Accountability of Drug Companies Questioned

The Consumers International lobby group accused drugmakers of unscrupulous marketing practices by misleading physicians of a drug’s effectiveness and convincing consumers of the drug’s importance. The study revealed a "shocking" lack of transparency in the marketing practices of the world’s top-twenty drug companies.
In 2005 total global pharmaceutical sales grew 7 per cent at constant exchange rates, to $602 bn (€480 bn). The report identified an annual marketing spend of $60bn (€47bn). (...)