Millenium Development Goals

Breaking barriers - Roma students can become doctors!

Since 2010, the Roma Center for Health Policies – SASTIPEN has been implementing a Tutorship Programme to help Roma students in several European countries (like Romania, Macedonia, Serbia, and Bulgaria) who want to become doctors and whose social and financial support is limited. This Tutorship Programme offers preparatory courses for Roma students in biology, chemistry and/or physics. Roma students also receive mentoring and technical assistance to help them pass admission exams (...)

Women and Cardiovascular Disease in the EU

14 February - Valentine’s Day is a good opportunity to think about women’s hearts. On its latest policy briefing, the European Institute of Women’s Health (EIWH) highlighted the key differences between women and men in matters of the heart - such as risk factors, symptoms, treatment and biomedical research. Traditionally regarded as a male disease, cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the number one killer of women worldwide. It is also a major cause of serious illness and (...)

UN Human Rights Guidance for reduction of preventable maternal morbidity and mortality

At their 21st session, the United Nations’ Human Rights Council adopted a report aimed to help policymakers improve women’s health and rights by providing guidance on implementing policies and programmes. The Report encourages UN Members to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity in accordance with human rights standards. At their 21st session, the United Nations’ Human Rights Council adopted a report aimed to help policymakers improve women’s health and rights by (...)

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 (...)

Danish Presidency proposes final compromise on FTT

A final compromise text was proposed for discussion in the last Economic and Financial Affairs (ECOFIN) Council meeting before the end of the Danish Presidency. This follows the Parliament’s call for the introduction of a Financial Transaction Tax (FTT)

WHO releases the World health statistics 2012 report

What is the World Health Statistics report? The World Health Statistics report, published every year, contains a WHO’s annual compilation of data from 194 countries on a range of mortality, disease and health system indicators as well as risk factors and behaviours that affect health directly. The report also includes a progress summary on health-related Millennium Development Goals and targets. This year’s report provides evidence of the dramatic increase in the conditions (...)

Press Release: Action for Global Health welcomes European Commission proposal for an EU financial transaction tax, but insists part of the revenue must go towards development and health

On Wednesday 28 September, European Commission President José Manuel Barroso announced the adoption of an EC proposal to implement a financial transaction tax (FTT) in all 27 members of the European Union. The announcement follows the Commission’s earlier backing on an EU level FTT in its proposal for the bloc’s next multi-annual financial framework (MFF) on 30 June 2011. “The movement for an FTT is really gaining momentum. We’re living in uncertain economic (...)

***Action for Global Health Press Release***: EU tax on financial transactions must go towards health and development

On 29 June 2011, the European Commission (EC) presented its proposals for the 2014-2020 budget, setting out the possibility for the bloc to raise its own resources through the implementation of a financial transaction tax (FTT). The multi-annual financial framework proposed yesterday sets out the EU’s spending priorities until 2020. ***For Immediate Release*** 30 June 2011, Brusels EU tax on financial transactions must go towards health and development, says Action for Global (...)

Food For Everyone: Towards a Global Deal

On the 23rd of May the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) hosted a conference on global food security under the title “Food for Everyone: Towards a Global Deal”. The purpose of the event was to explore and understand the issue of food security and propose solutions supporting the achievement of the MGDs. With close to one billion people worldwide suffering from hunger1, and a much higher number from malnutrition, food security is again placed high on the political (...)

Maternal Mortality: The way forward

On 23 March 2011 EPHA was present at an expert meeting in the European Parliament examining the next steps to be taken in addressing maternal mortality and how much progress is being made to reach Millenium Development Goal 5; to reduce by three quarters the maternal mortality ratio. The event looked at the responses of various institutions, and in particular that of the European Parliament, which was represented by Michael Cashman MEP, Antonyia Parvanova MEP and Sophie In’t Veld MEP (...)