Communicable Diseases

Unveiling the Danish Presidency health priorities

From the 1st January to the 30 June 2012, Denmark will hold the Presidency of the Council of the EU, with four overarching priorities: a responsible Europe; a dynamic Europe; A green Europe; a safe Europe. In the health field, the Danish presidency will prioritise six main issues. 1 Action Programme in the Field of Health In 2011, the European Commission presented its proposal for a new Framework Programme in the field of Health called Health For Growth. The Danish Presidency plans to (...)

EU Health Policy Forum calls on the European Commission to take action on chronic disease

Following the Council conclusions of 7 December 2011, The European Commission launched a consultation on chronic diseases. The European Health Policy Forum (EU HPF) - Commission consultative body on health - and of which EPHA is a member - made public its views on how to best address the issues related to chronic diseases. The EU Health Policy Forum response on chronic diseases called for the EU to quickly take action to reduce the risk of chronic disease, to improve the health of its (...)

EU Action Plan to tackle antimicrobial resistance

The European Commission launches a new five year Action Plan on anti-microbial resistance (AMR), which has been singled out as a major public health concern.

European Parliament stance on antimicrobial resistance

The European Parliament adopted a resolution requesting tighter controls on the use of antimicrobials - such as antibiotics. The resolution is non-binding on the EU and its Member States but gives a strong signal on what the European Parliament expects on the issue. The European Parliament adopted a resolution requesting tighter controls on the use of antimicrobials - such as antibiotics. The resolution is non-binding on the EU and its Member States but gives a strong signal on what the (...)

Fourth International Influenza Conference highlights gap between vaccination recommendations and practice

The Fourth International Influenza Conference in Malta underlined the need to forge closer links between science and policy, and to address the ongoing dichotomy between the recognised need to vaccinate at-risk groups and the reluctance of individuals - including health professionals - to comply with WHO and EU recommendations. EPHA was invited to attend the Fourth International Influenza Conference in Malta, which brought together leading scientists, academics, policy makers and industry (...)

WHO European Region meets in Baku - Overview of the discussions and results

Representatives from the 53 Member States in the WHO European Region meet in Baku, Azerbaijan on the 12-15 September , for their 61st session to discuss the reform of the WHO, the new WHO EURO policy for health, health governance, and several action plans particularly on noncommunicable diseases and alcohol. The Regional Committee sessions represents the annual meetings during which representatives from the 53 Member States in the WHO European Region take decisions for the WHO EURO and (...)

"The State of Men’s Health in Europe" - a new Commission publication

On 25 August 2011, the European Commission published a new Report entitled "The State of Men’s Health in Europe". The document gathers data from more than 30 European countries on men’s health status, particularities and specific needs related to specific diseases. A summary of this fruitful research is available below. The European Commission recently published a Report entitled "The State of Men’s Health in Europe". Gathering data from the EU27, Norway, Iceland, (...)

EPHA launches a consultation on Policy Recommendations for Health Equity

Further to launch of the European Charter for Health Equity in December 2010, and having collected more than 130 signatures from various multi-level and multi-sectoral stakeholders, EPHA is launching a consultation process on Policy Recommendations for Health Equity. In the framework of participatory process, we aim at delivering comprehensive and cross-sectoral messages for reducing health inequalities through focusing on social determinants of health. Further to signature of the European (...)

WHO report on Environmental burden of disease associated with inadequate housing.

The WHO Europe published a report on the environmental burden of disease associated with inadequate housing. It provides substantial evidence on the consequences of bad housing on health. The report - entitled "Environmental burden of disease associated with inadequate housing. Methods for quantifying health impacts of selected housing risks in the WHO European Region. Summary report." - looks at several health issues that would be improved with adequate housing: indoor dampness and (...)

EU disaster response: the ENVI committee responds

The European Parliament’s ENVI Committee has adopted a draft report, ’’Towards a stronger European disaster response: the role of civil protection and humanitarian assistance’’. The goal is to reinforce disaster response capacity and to create synergies between existing mechanisms in order to avoid duplication of work and operate more cost-effectively. The draft report by rapporteur Elisabetta Gardini (EPP, Italy) welcomes the homonymous Communication from the (...)