education

[EPHA Open Letter] to EPSCO Council - Boosting investment in health and sustainable development

EPHA has published an open letter to the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO). Based on the recently released Annual Growth Survey (AGS) for 2013, the letter makes recommendations aimed at boosting investment in health and sustainable development. On February 28, EPSCO Council met to discuss the AGS and formulate recommendations towards the EU Spring Council of March. The meeting outcome has great impact, not only on EU guidance, but also on national (...)

Council conclusions on Literacy

The Council of the European Union adopted a couple of conclusions on literacy during the 3201st Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council meeting on 26 and 27 November in Brussels. Levels of literacy remain stagnant in most European countries and one in five European citizens has inadequate literacy levels. Taking into account the fact that literacy is a crucial life competence which empowers the individual citizen and that low literacy levels hold back economic growth and reduces (...)

Time to Act: WHO Global Code of Practice on International Recruitment of Health Personnel

The World Health Organisation Global Code of Practice on International Recruitment of Health Personnel was adopted in 2010 by the WHO Member States, including the EU-27 countries. Notably, its monitoring strategy calls on NGOs and other stakeholders to work with the WHO to achieve ‘’meaningful commitment and action’’. The meeting of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe in Malta on 10-13 September is an opportunity to recall the importance and urgency of (...)

New report reviews health literacy interventions

Health literacy is vital to active and informed healthcare issues and is identified as a key action to reduce health inequalities within the European Union. In this context the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has published a paper providing rapid review of the evidence on the effectiveness of interventions to improve health literacy. The ECDC report focuses on communicable diseases and interventions for disadvantaged populations within the European region. The (...)

Counterfeit medicines: What role for patients?

The Council of Europe’s eTACT project project is a collaborative system to better, in support of the Falsified Medicines Directive, secure the legal supply-chain of medicinal products from manufacturers to consumers. It proposes a flexible structure that could provide patients with a role in the identification of falsified medicines by using new technology to check the authenticity of products. However, instead of ’empowering’ patients and enhancing trust, the effects (...)

European Commission calls on Member States to implement national plans for Roma integration

After receiving National Roma Integration Strategies form the EU Member States (MSs), the European Commission has analysed the proposals and, along the launch of the Communication on the strategies of 21 May 2012 called on EU Member States for their comprehensive implementation to improve the economic and social integration of Europe’s 10 to 12 million Roma. Regretfully, out of 4 focus areas of Roma inclusion, health and housing lack strategic and systematic vision. Commission (...)

Commission unveils Action Plan for Health Workforce

As part of the European Commission Communication ’’Towards a job-rich recovery’’ of 18 April 2012, a Staff Working Document on an Action Plan for the EU Health Workforce has been released. It aims to assist Member States to tackle urgent challenges and sets out actions to foster cooperation and share good practices. The EC Communication ’’Towards a job-rich recovery’’ and the accompanying Commission Staff Working Document on an Action Plan (...)

IMCO hearing zooms in on challenges of Professional Qualifications Directive revision

An Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee (IMCO) hearing took place on 25 April to discuss the European Commission’s legislative proposal to revise the Professional Qualifications Directive. The hearing served to confirm that a large number of complex issues remain to be solved. The hearing gathered the lead Committee’s Rapporteur and shadow rapporteurs, as well as expert speakers representing some of the professions affected. In her opening, IMCO Rapporteur (...)

90 million euro for the EU School Fruit Scheme for 2012/2013

The allocation of EU aid under the School Fruit Scheme for the 2012/2013 school year has been backed by Member States in the Management Committee on 6 March and the Commission’s formal adoption is set to follow in the upcoming weeks. The EU funding of € 90 million will be allocated to the 24 participating Member States as proposed by the Commission, based on the population of 6-10 year old children and the needs expressed by each participating Member State. Sweden, Finland and (...)

Stakeholder meeting on revision of Professional Qualifications Directive: key dates and actors

A stakeholder meeting took place at the beginning of February to gather further comments on the legislative proposal for modernising the Professional Qualifications Directive. It zoomed in on some of the key issues of concern to health professionals and patients. More information on key dates and key actors for EPHA members. The Commission released its legislative proposal for the revision of the Professional Qualifications Directive (DIR36) on 19 December 2011. One month later, the file (...)