Health-promoting environment

[HEAL report] In Poland, health cost associated with air pollution from coal power generation accounts to 3-8.2 bn euro every year

Burning coal in power plants in Poland results in health costs of PLN 12.5 to 34.4 billion (€3 to 8.2 billion) every year, according to a study presented in Warsaw today by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), a non-profit alliance of organisations from the health and medical sector. The new study links air pollution from power plants burning coal and lignite with chronic illness and premature deaths in Poland. Health groups warn that the use of coal is harmful and (...)

[EPT] Urban Mobility Package – Commission initiative - The Urban Dimension of the EU Transport Policy (updated on 21 May 2013)

Urban Mobility Package – Commission initiative - The Urban Dimension of the EU Transport Policy A large majority of European citizens live in an urban environment, with over 60% living in urban areas of over 10.000 inhabitants. They live their daily lives in the same space, and for their mobility share the same infrastructure. Urban mobility accounts for 40% of all CO2 emissions of road transport and up to 70% of other pollutants from transport. European cities increasingly face (...)

[2013 Patients’ Rights Day] Putting patients in the driver’s seat

On the occasion of 2013 Patients’ Rights Day (May 15) EPHA would like to stress that, although much progress has been made, there is still a lot of scope for health systems to benefit from an obvious, yet commonly underutilized and underestimated resource: patients themselves. As patients and consumers of health services - and we all fall into this category throughout our lives - we build up an enormous amount of knowledge over the years that takes various forms. Some individuals, (...)

[Water is a Human Right campaign] First ever European Citizens Initiative to make it !

Brussels, 7 May - The first ever European Citizens Initiative (ECI) – Water is a Human Right! – has collected over 1.5 million signatures across Europe. Eight countries have just passed the minimum number of signatures required. The European Citizens’ Initiative ‘Water is a Human Right!’ is a pan-European initiative calling for the European Union (EU) to guarantee clean drinking water and quality sanitation for everyone living in Europe. EPHA, one of the (...)

[EPHA position paper] Reforming Health Sy­stems in Times of Austerity

Amidst the backdrop of the economic crisis and countries being recommended to reform health systems to achieve better public administrations and fiscal consolidation, EPHA launches its position on health system reforms. This position includes lessons learned and recommendations for equality.

[European Observatory] Venice Summer School 2013

The European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies and the Veneto Region of Italy are organising a Summer School with the title “Time for Change: Innovative Ways of Improving Population Health†The European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies and the Veneto Region of Italy are organising a Summer School with the title “Time for Change: Innovative Ways of Improving Population Health” European countries increasingly recognize the importance of (...)

[Pre-announcement] Violence Against Children Report Cards to be launched

On May 30 the European Child Safety Alliance will launch Violence Against Children Report Cards for 29 European countries. This is the first time that Violence Against Children Report Cards are being produced and released across Europe. The Violence Against Children Report Cards assess the extent of harm prevention measures provided to children by examining and grading the adoption, implementation and enforcement of national level, evidence-based policies addressing intentional injury to (...)

International Thalassaemia Day – 8th of May

For the global thalassaemia family, the 8th of May constitutes a very special day as it is dedicated to both commemorate the thalassaemia patients who are no longer with us and to celebrate all those patients who are alive and fighting every day for their right to a better quality of life. Thalassaemia are forms of inherited recessive blood disorders originating in the Mediterranean region. This disease is caused by the weakening and destruction of red blood cells. Thalassaemia is caused (...)

UK Chief Medical Officer warns of danger of Antimicrobial Resistance

The threat posed by growing antimicrobial resistance (AMR), should be considered as serious as terrorism, according to the UK’s Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Professor Dame Sally Davies. In an interview with the Guardian newspaper, Professor Davies urged the British government to raise the issue at the upcoming G8 Summit and warned that AMR poses a ’catastrophic threat’ to the population. Mirroring comments made by the WHO, she added that, unless concrete steps are taken (...)

Links between Housing Situation, Noise Pollution & Adverse Health Effects

A recent pan-European study has reviewed the factors which influence how annoyed a person feels about road traffic and aircraft noise. Among its findings, residents in terraced housing or apartments were less annoyed by road traffic noise than residents in semi-detached or detached housing. People who are exposed to long-term noise may experience annoyance as well as health problems, including high blood pressure (hypertension). This study, conducted under the EU HYENA project [[HYENA (...)