Chronic Diseases

New e-MSc Course in Haemoglobinopathies

University College London (UCL) in collaboration with Thalassaemia International Federation is launching the first academic course for health professionals specialising in haemoglobinopathies.
This unique e-learning course offers health professionals from around the world the opportunity to pursue a specialist qualification from a leading university with minimum disruption to professional and personal lives. The course will provide a thorough understanding of the holistic care and all (...)

Thalassaemia International Federation (TIF) to hold two conferences in Singapore

11th International Conference on Thalassaemia and Haemoglobinopathies & 13th International TIF Conference for Thalassaemia Patients and Parents 8–11 October 2008 Singapore
This major biennial event is a highlight on the thalassaemia community calendar, attracting health professionals, patients and their families from around the world for five intensive days of informative presentations on the latest advances in the treatment, cure and prevention of thalassaemia and other haemoglobin (...)

Meningitis Trust event in London 17 September 2008

The Meningitis Trust will be holding a conference on 17 September 2008 in the British Library, London UK, entitled:
After Meningitis: Living with the impact of meningitis and meningococcal septicaemia.
This conference is aimed at healthcare professionals and carers. It will discuss the after-effects of meningococcal disease with particular emphasis on specialist support. Further details and a booking form are available on the Meningitis Trust (...)

"European Cardiovascular Disease Statistics 2008" are published by the European Heart Network

http://www.ehnheart.org/content/def...
The European Heart Network has issued the third edition of "European Cardiovascular Disease Statistics 2008".
http://www.ehnheart.org/content/def...
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the main cause of death in the European Union killing over 2 million people per year.
"European Cardiovascular Disease Statistics 2008" includes data on: death and illness; treatment; the prevalence of behavioural risk factors for CVD ; and the prevalence of medical (...)

Stress and Cardiovascular Disease - New Paper by the European Heart Network

The European Heart Network (EHN) has recently published a 40-page paper entitled "Stress and cardiovascular disease". This paper surveys the major studies covering several aspects of stress and cardiovascular disease (CVD).
The paper seeks to examine the importance of stress as an independent factor in the incidence and the course of CVD.
It argues that because stress is more difficult for health care practitioners to define and assess than widely accepted coronary risk factors (such as (...)

Open Forum on Key Issues in Tuberculosis Drug Development

The Second Open Forum on Key Issues in Tuberculosis (TB) Drug Development will take place in London on December 12 - 13, 2006.
This two day meeting will focus on regulatory issues in TB drug development and will include topics such as:
Update of the Global TB Drug Development Portfolio
Key Issues in the Critical Path to TB Drug Registration
Biomarkers for TB Drug Development
Design and Challenges for Pivotal Trials
Developing Regimens Containing (...)

Conference on "Tuberculosis - The Way Forward", London - 16 October 2006

EPHA member, the Royal College of Physicians (UK) and the British Thoracic Society organise a conference entitled Tuberculosis - The Way Forward on Monday 16 October 2006, in London.
The conference aims to provide an opportunity for those working in TB management, prevention and control to take stock of these developments, share experiences and ideas, and look forward to the next few years to reverse the UK’s increasing TB rates.
The conference is of particular interest to physicians, (...)

Strategy meeting on Tobacco Control in Europe **date change**

A strategy meeting on the future of tobacco control in Europe will be organised in early 2007 in Brussels (please note that this meeting was previously scheduled for September 2006.
For a number of years and on a fairly regular basis, the European Tobacco Control community has got together to take stock, to discuss major trends and to define the major priorities for the next period. These meetings have been held in London, Barcelona, Heidelberg, and Brussels. Following the successful (...)

Tobacco control award goes to Luk Joossens - Association of the European Cancer Leagues

The American Cancer League has awarded the Luther L. Terry award in the category of outstanding individuals to Luk Joossens, working for the Association of European Cancer Leagues (ECL), an EPHA member.
The Luther L. Terry Awards were established to honor exemplary individual and organizational achievements in the field of tobacco control and prevention throughout the world.
Each nomination is reviewed by the Award Selection Committee. Nominees must have a demonstrated record of consistent (...)

EU guidelines on Breast cancer debated in the European Parliament

European Donna and the European Parliamentary Group on Breast Cancer organised a meeting in June 2006 in the European Parliament to raise awareness on the importance of this issue.
The meeting was a follow up to the adoption in April 2006 of the European Guidelines for Quality Assurance in Breast Cancer Screening and Diagnosis.
During the meeting, experts showed evidence that preventive mammography screening saves lives and improve the quality of life of women diagnosed with breast cancer: (...)

Chronic Kidney diseases - Guidelines for identification, management and referral

The Royal College of Physicians, and the Renal Association have joined forces to publish a new guideline on "Chronic kidney disease in adults: UK guidelines for identification, management and referral".
Chronic kidney disease (CKD)is generally thought to be rare, complex and are usually not curable. Besides, a late referral could lead to much more complex situations (such as dialysis or kidney transplantation.
Early identification and intervention is therefore necessary to reduce (...)

Informal Consultation Meeting on the Green Paper on Mental Health

EuroHealthNet, EPHA member, organises an informal consultation meeting on the Green Paper on Mental health on Wednesday 8 March 2006 from 9.30 - 12.30 at the Social Platform premises.
The objective of the meeting is to enable participants to contribute their views on mental health in relation to social inclusion and human rights. The input will be fed directly into the second formal consultation meeting of the EU Platform on Mental health, organised by the European Commission and the (...)

**UPDATED** A Conference addressing women and cardiovascular diseases

**The article has been updated with presentations and the call for action**. The European Heart Network,EPHA member and the European Society of Cardiology, under the auspices of the Austrian Presidency of the European Union, will organise the European Cardiovascular Health Conference:"Women’s Health at Heart: Promoting Cardiovascular Health and Preventing Cardiovascular Disease" on 7 March 2006 in Brussels.
The conference aims to examine how factors such as tobacco and cholesterol, (...)

Improving quality of life for food allergic people - The Europrevall project

The European Federation of Allergy and Airways Diseases Patients’ Associations (EFA) (an EPHA member) is one of 54 partners in the EU-funded mutli-disciplinary intergrated project, EuroPrevall - a project on the Prevalence, Cost, and Basis of Food Allergy across Europe. In this project EFA is leader of the allergy consumer stakeholder group.
EuroPrevall aims to deliver improved quality of life for food allergic people by developing common information and tools for use by European food (...)

EUROPA DONNA 7th Pan-European Conference: "Joining Voices - Meeting Needs"

Earlier this month, EPHA member EUROPA DONNA, The European Breast Cancer Coalition brought together advocates and breast cancer specialists representing 38 countries, for its 7th Pan-European Conference “Joining Voices - Meeting Needs” in Rome.
The event, which is held every two years, focused this time on promoting equality of access to breast screening and breast care for all women across Europe. EUROPA DONNA President Stella Kyriakides stated as one of their objectives the (...)

15th Annual Congress of the European Respiratory Society

The European Respiratory Society (ERS) organised its 2005 Congress on the 17-21 September 2005 in Copenhagen, Denmark. It provided a rich, diverse programme on lung health and disease, addressing aspects of clinical diagnosis, treatment and research on lung disorders. The congress featured:
50 symposia including hot topics and grand rounds;
free communication sessions, including 80 oral presentation sessions, 35 poster discussion sessions and thematic posters;
22 postgraduate courses (...)

Breast cancer placed on the agenda in the European Forum Alpbach

EUROPA DONNA - The European Breast Cancer Coalition, an EPHA member, has issued a press release (see below) on its involvement in the European Forum Alpbach, Austria 2005.
The European Forum Alpbach brings together decision-makers and researchers from various fields to discuss current issues related to the future of Europe.
During this year’s event EUROPA DONNA’s Executive Director, Susan Knox, held a presentation entitled ’European Health Care: Patients’ needs and the Advocate’s role’. (...)

Fruit and Vegetable Policy in the European Union

The European Heart Network (EHN), an EPHA member, has recently published a report titled "Fruit and Vegetable Policy in the European Union" which examines the potential effect of the EU Common Agricultural Policy fruit and vegetable regime on the burden of cardiovascular disease (CDV).
Cardiovascular risk factors are well known and mostly amenable to change. Public health policies aimed at reducing rates of cardiovascular diseases have typically emphasised the traditional risk factors such (...)

Launch of Cancer Patients’ Rights Guidelines

The Association of European Cancer Leagues (ECL) held their end-of-year reception, taking place on 7 December in Brussels.
ECL presented the results of its year-long work on cancer patients’ rights.
At a time when the EU is intensely discussing issues such as patient mobility, the provision of healthcare services in the internal market and health inequalities, ECL believes that a greater dialogue should be taking place on this subject between health and cancer-related NGOs, and with their (...)

Relaunch of the EU Working Group on Diabetes in the EP

The International Diabetes Federation - Europe, an EPHA member, relaunched the EU Diabetes Working Group in the European Parliament.
On 17 November 2004, at the same time as the November plenary session at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, IDF-E held the meeting ’A European Diabetes Strategy’ which aimed to bring together MEPs to focus on EU measures to improve prevention, care and management of diabetes in Europe in the context of a European diabetes strategy.
The meeting was chaired (...)

EPHA Briefing on the Draft Proposal for Paediatric Medicines

EPHA Secretariat has prepared a briefing note on the draft ’Regulation on Medicinal products for Paediatric Use’ published by the European Commission on 29 September 2004.
Extensive testing is required on all medicines authorised for use in adults to ensure they are safe, of high quality and effective. However, more than 50% of the medicines currently used to treat children have neither been tested or authorised for paediatric use.
The aim of the regulation is to improve children’s health (...)

Focus on health inequalities in Ireland

On 15 June 2004, the Public Health Alliance Ireland has launched a publication outlining health inqualities and the links to other forms of social and economic disadvantage.
Health in Ireland: An unequal Statebrings together information and evidence from a wide variety of sources. The Public Health Alliance Ireland is an independent alliance whose mission is to work together for a healthier society by improving health and challenging health inequalities
The report highlights three key (...)

Call for urgent action on obesity in the UK

A new report on obesity in the UK argues that action needs to be taken at every possible level - national, local, community and as individuals, together with an understanding of the social and cultural factors that are behind the progressive increase in overweight and obesity.
Reducing and preventing obesity - everything must change is produced jointly by the Royal College of Physicians, the Faculty of Public Health, and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.
The UK has the (...)

Launch of an allergy and asthma European network

The GA²LEN (Global Allergy and Asthma European Network) will be launched on 12 February in Brussels.
The network (funded by the European Commission’s 6th Framework Programme for Research) will create a permanent and durable structure to coordinate research capacity in Europe on Allergy and Asthma issues.
The network has 27 Partners, including the European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) and the European Federation of Allergy and Asthma Patients Associations (EFA), (...)

UKPHA participates in beating "diseases of inactivity"

The UK Public Health Association has taken part in WHO’s global consultation on a strategy for non-communicable diseases.
Non-communicable disease (NCD) is an awkward, obscure term, more usually thought of in terms of chronic disease, food-related disease or lifestyle diseases - what some have called the ’disease of inactivity’. There is little confusion about its impact though.
In the US, for example, NCDs are about to overtake smoking in terms of scale and cost. In that country in 2000 (...)

**UPDATED**Commission launches consultation on Air Quality

Following its consultation on air quality, the European Commission has published an EU thematic strategy on air quality and ambient air quality legislation.
EPHA, EPHA Environment Network and the European Federation of Allergy and Airways Diseases Patients’ Associations (EFA) are calling the European Parliament to take a strong leadership role on that dossier.
The three organisations remind MEPs in the attached letter that according to the European Commission’s own Impact Assessment, (...)

Cancer, environment and society

ARTAC (the French Association for Research on Treatments Against Cancer) organises a conference on "Cancer, environment and society" on 7th May 2004.
EEN Director, Génon Jensen will be amongst the European speakers.
Participants to this conference include representatives from many European and French NGOs working on Environmental issues and the European Commissioner for Environment, Margot Wallström.
This event takes place under the sponsorship of the Nicolas Hulot (...)

The epidemic dimension of asbestos in the US

US environmental think-tank, the Environmental Working Group launched a website on asbestos on March 2004.
Reports on their website highlight that since 1979, at least 43,073 people have died from exposure to this mineral in the US.
EWG predicts at least 100,000 more will die of asbestos-related diseases over the next 10 years and warns that more than 1 million people are still being exposed to it in the everyday environment.
US governement prohibited new uses of asbestos in 1989 after (...)

US alert on arsenic in children’s playground equipment

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released preliminary findings on Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA), a chemical mixture consisting of three pesticidal compounds (arsenic, chromium, and copper) registered for wood preservative uses. This follows public concern about the longterm health impact of treated wood in children’s outdoor play structures. The biggest risk is posed by hand-to-mouth contact with the treated wood. Concerned parents should ensure that children wash their (...)

Conclusions from the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council meeting 9-10 June, 2008

The Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO) met on 10 June. It was agreed that an intensified, structured cooperation between the Council and the Commission is the key to achieving strategy goals and resolving other important issues according to the EU Health Strategy adopted in October 2007.
On the first day of the EPSCO meeting, 9 of June, the Health Ministers of the EU member states confirmed the proposal to change the mandate of the high-level group on (...)

The European Court of Justice rules in favour of the indirect disability rights

The European Court of Justice gave a boost to disability rights on 31 January after ruling in favour of Sharon Coleman, a legal secretary in London who suffered “discrimination by association”. This first legal victory could give new rights to millions of carers living in Europe.
According to Poiares Maduro, the advocate general at the European Court of Justice, Sara Coleman, a legal secretary in London, suffered “discrimination by association” when she was (...)

Public Consultation on rare diseases

The European Commission is to publish in November 2008 a Communication on rare diseases. Therefore, it has been called a public consultation concerning a European action in the field of rare diseases. Responses to such consultation should be sent to the European Commission by 14 February 2008.
Rare diseases are life-threatening or chronically debilitating diseases that have a low prevalence in population (less than 5 per 10 000 persons) and therefore need special efforts to tackle (...)

EPHA press release: Will Europe be healthy in 2057? Give us reasons to celebrate! Don’t forget health!

Brussels, 23 May 2007 - On the 25th March the European Union celebrates its 50th birthday and defines its vision for the next 50 years. European leaders must recognise that the health of European Citizens is key to achieving the mission and values of the EU.
The credibility of the EU’s positions on trade, environment, development and international health issues, rests upon a clear focus and priority on public health in the Berlin Declaration.
Speaking on behalf of the European Public (...)

European Parliament demands breast cancer services to be implemented across EU-25

In October 2006, the European Parliament voted in favour of a new Breast Cancer Resolution demanding effective implementation of breast cancer services in all EU Member States.
Three years earlier, in 2003 the European Parliament voted on a resolution on breast cancer which called, amongst other things, for:
A 25% reduction in the average breast-cancer mortality rate and a 5% reduction in inequalities between Member States
Accession countries to increase efforts to fight breast cancer (...)

EU Sustainable Development Strategy adopted

The European Council (composed by Heads of State or Prime Ministers of the 25 EU Member States) adopted in June 2006 the review of the EU Sustainable Development Strategy (SDS).
The first EU SDS was agreed in 2001 by the European Council in Göteborg, which was followed by a Commission Communication on the review of the SDS in December 2005.
It aims to set out measures by which the EU will meet the challenges of sustainable development.
The key objectives are:
Environmental protection - (...)

Diabetes on the agenda of the European Parliament and the Austrian Presidency

The European Parliament has adopted by an absolute majority (415 signatures in total) a written Declaration on Diabetes. It complements the conclusions of the informal meeting of European Health ministers under the Austrian Presidency.
European Parliament declaration
The Declaration, tabled by John Bowis together Georgs Andrejevs, Dorette Corbey and Karin Scheele, urges the Commission and Council:
to prioritise diabetes in EU health policy,
to encourage Member States to develop national (...)

Call for Information - Health Effects of Smokeless Tobacco Products

The European Commission Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR) seeks scientific opinions on Health Effects of Smokeless Tobacco Products.]
The Scientific Committees provide the Commission with the scientific advice it needs when preparing policy and proposals relating to consumer safety, public health and the environment. As one of these committees, SCENIHR’s mandate is to question emerging or newly-identified risks on broad, complex or (...)

ECDC Director committed to improve public health in Europe

Mrs Zsuzsanna Jakab begun working as the first Director of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), in March 2005.
Objectives of the ECDC
Speaking at the European Parliament’s Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) Committee hearing on Monday 10 January 2005, she asserted very clearly 4 broad functions for the future ECDC :
Organising and coordinating the collaboration between EU institutions, Member States and other partners such as the World Health (...)

Hungarian public health official first director of ECDC

Commission launches recommendations on genetic testing

A high level expert group have made 25 recommendations to ensure that genetic testing is used responsibly. The expert groups included academics, industry and civil society representatives and they addressed the social, ethical and legal implications at a conference in Brussels on 6-7 May 2004/
The conference, organised by DG Research resulted in a call to ensure that genetic testing remain a matter of free choice.
The 25 (...)

EPODE - Together Let’s Prevent Childhood Obesity

On 27 June the EPODE European Coordination Unit organised the first EPODE Mayors’ Club European congress in collaboration with the European Commission (DG Health and Consumers). EPODE is a methodology designed to involve all relevant local stakeholders in an integrated and concrete prevention program aimed at facilitating the adoption of healthier lifestyles in the everyday life.
EPODE Background Information
EPODE (Together Let’s Prevent Childhood Obesity) is a methodology designed (...)

Own-initiative report on obesity adopted unanimously by European Parliament

The disturbing trend of rising obesity rates must be stopped, said the European Parliament’s Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee (ENVI) in a new report giving suggestions on how to approach the problem.
The ENVI Committee adopted an own-initiative report on obesity by MEP Alessandro Foglietta, unanimously.
Obesity has great costs on both quality of life and the economy. It already accounts, directly, for about 6% of health spending but the indirect costs are much higher, (...)

Meeting EU Platform on Diet, Physical Activity and Health, July 2007

Find here the supporting documents from the February plenary meeting of the EU Platform on Diet, Physical Activity and Health of July 2007.
An important document discussed at this meeting was the future of the Platform beyond 2007.
DG Sanco distributed a discussion paper two days before the meeting took place, and the participants gave their general opinion about the future of the Platform.
Members of the platform are also allowed to send written comments before the end of July 2007, so the (...)

How to tackle obesity by local actions?

Tackling overweight and obesity requires actions at several levels, including at local level. The National Heart Forum (NHF), an EPHA member, and the Faculty of Public Health published a new toolkit with useful statistics, practical initiatives, evidence of effectiveness, checklists, frameworks and examples of good practice.
"Lightening the load: Tackling overweight and obesity" has been designed to provide a starting point for developing a local strategy to combat overweight and obesity (...)

Protecting Children from Internet and TV marketing - Calls for Action

Children are being targeted by junk food manufacturers through internet advertising, chatrooms, text messages and "advergames" on websites, according to a report from the International Obesity Task Force.
The International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) report details how new forms of advertising are increasingly being employed which bypass parental control to target children directly.
Exploitative marketing techniques is an growing reality. The increasing use of the internet among chidren, (...)

WHO European Strategy for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases

The World Health Organzation Europe region (EURO WHO) has recently adopted the European Strategy for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) (NCDs). The 28 page document makes for some interesting reading on ways to tackle the disturbing trend of NCDs.
NCDs account for some 86% of deaths and 77% of the disease burden in the WHO European Region - very disturbing statistics, especially given the fact that these diseases are largely preventable.
Noncommunicable diseases (...)

VI meeting of the EU Platform on Diet and EU/US transatlantic conference

EPHA attended a two-day EU/US transatlantic conference "Good practices: Action on Diet, Physical Activity and Health", hosted by the European Commission in the framework of the European Platform for Action on the same topic.
The meeting was chaired jointly by Robert Madelin, Director-General, DG Consumer Health and Protection (SANCO) within the European Commission and Van Hubbard, US Department of Health & Human Services (HHS).
Debra Platt Majoras, Chairman of the US Federal Trade (...)

Food Marketing to Children and Youth: Threat or Opportunity?

A recent report by the US Institute of Medicine concludes that the marketing creativity of the food industry could be used to promote healthy foods and gives them practical tips to do so.
The US Institute of Medicine, through the Food and Nutrition Board and the Board on Children, Youth, and Families, undertook a comprehensive study of the science-based effects of food marketing on the diets and health of children and youth in the United States: "Food Marketing to Children and Youth: Threat (...)

*UPDATED* European Commission consultation on labelling

*UPDATED with the publication of a report from the European Commission.* The European Commission Directorate General for Health and Consumer Protectionlaunched a consultation to review a number of labelling issues.
In order to increase consistency between the proposals they plan to submit, they have decided to launch a consultation with key stakeholders.
EPHA responded to the consultation (see attached document)
Report on the responses: Labelling: Competitiveness, Consumer information and (...)

UPDATED U.S. report calls for "Urgent effort to combat obesity"

A report released by the US National Academy of Sciences has outlined recommendations for combating the rapid rise in childhood obesity.
Tasked by the US Congress with drawing up a prevention-focused action plan to lower the numbers of obese children in the United States, the IOM appointed a committee of 19 experts in child health, obesity, nutrition, physical activity, and public health.
The report, Preventing Childhood Obesity: Health in Balance describes the action plan and says that (...)

*UPDATED* Destroying myths and misunderstandings of the EU health claims Regulation

*UPDATE*: The regulation on food and health claims was published in the Official Journal in December 2006.
EPHA is closely following the developments in the EP of the Commission’s draft Regulation on nutrition and health claims made on foods.
Articles 4 and 11 are the most controversials (on nutrition profiles and implied health claims).
Three Committees of the EP were in charge of writing reports and opinions on the Commission proposal. Although there was a general agreement amongst (...)

EFSA highlights the dangers of eating too much salt

The European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) Panel on dietetic products, nutrition and allergies (NDA) has issued an opinion on the Tolerable Upper Intake Level of Sodium, warning that salt increases blood pressure, a major risk factor in heart disease and premature death.
The panel stated that althoufh sodium is an essential nutrient, most Europeans’ daily intake of sodium (8-11g) far exceeds the daily recommended allowance of 1.5g. The major sources of sodium in diet are processed (...)

Preparatory meeting for the Platform on Diet, Physical Activity and Health

A preparatory meeting to lauch the "Platform on Diet, Physical Activity and Health" was organised on the 15 February by DG Sanco.
This meeting included the members of the Obesity Round Table plus around 20 suggested additional participants and responsibles for health issues of the Permanent Representations of the EU Member States to the EU (involved in the preparation of Health Council meetings).
Amongst these suggested additional participants was EPHA.
DG Sanco’s report to the (...)

Food and nutrition on the European agenda

DG SANCO has established a new Advisory Group on the food chain. The new group will bring together key stakeholders including farmers, the food industry, retailers, consumer organisations and others to advise the European Commission on food safety policy. It will meet at least twice a year and consist of up to 45 members from EU-level associations. Reflecting the Commission’s "farm to fork" approach to food safety, the group will be consulted on matters ranging from policy on pesticides (...)

Recommendation to reduce salt intake in the population

Excessive salt intake raises the risk of high blood pressure, which in turn increases the risk of stroke and premature death from cardiovascular diseases - warn the scientists from two British organisations: Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition and Consensus Action on Salt and Health.
The current public health recommendations suggest that salt intake should be reduced from 9-12 to 5-6 grams per day for adults. Clinical trials demonstrate a clear link between salt reduction and the (...)

Nearly one third of US diet consists of junk food

A new analysis of the foods Americans eat finds that sugary snacks and sodas reign supreme over healthier options such as vegetables and fruit.
Gladys Block, professor of epidemiology and public health nutrition at the University of California, Berkeley, has quantified the types of foods the United States population eats and ranked them by the amount of calories they contribute.
Her findings, published in the June issue of the Journal of Food Chemistry and Analysis, reveal that three food (...)

UK Parliament demands action on obesity

The UK Health Select Committee of MPs has published a report condemning the government response to the growing obesity epidemic and demanding urgent action.
The Committee makes more than 70 recommendations for reforms to school food, labelling, transport and agricultural policies but stopped short of recommending regulation of TV advertising, calling instead for voluntary controls.
The report estimates that in the UK obesity costs £3.7 billion pounds per year.
What the government should (...)

Obesity in children and young people: A crisis in public health

A new report from the World Health Organisation (WHO) reveals that overweight affects 1 in 10 children worldwide.
The report, "Obesity in children and young people: A crisis in public health", has been issued by the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) of the WHO in co-operation with the Iternational Association for the Study of Obesity (IASO) in May 2004.
Around 30-45 million within that figure are classified as obese - accounting for 2-3% of the world’s children aged 5-17.
A further (...)

UNICEF calls for urgent food fortification for the developing world

As many as a third of the world’s people do not meet their physical and intellectual potential because of vitamin and mineral deficiencies, according to a report released in New York by UNICEF and The Micronutrient Initiative.
The report is accompanied by individual Damage Assessment Reports that present the most comprehensive picture to date of the toll being taken by vitamin and mineral deficiency in 80 developing countries.
The document sets out the implications of inadequate quantities (...)

Update on WHO Strategy on diet, physical activity and health

The Executive Board of the WHO has accepted the Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health as an agenda item for the 2004 World Health Assembly (WHA) in May.
The strategy was requested by Member States at WHA 2002 to address two of the major risk factors responsible for the heavy and growing burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), which include cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, cancers and obesity. NCDs now account for some 60% of global deaths and almost half (47%) of (...)

Fruit and vegetables save lives say WHO/FAO - November 2003

Increased consumption of fruit and vegetables could save 2.7 million lives per year
This was the finding of the WHO Global Forum on Noncommunicable Diseases (NCD) Prevention and Control, 2002.
Read about risk factors and quantification
This has prompted the World Health Organization & the Food and Agriculture Organization to announce this month, a global initiative to promote greater consumption of fruit and vegetables.
A recent report by WHO/FAO called Diet, nutrition and the (...)

FAO/WHO Launch Expert Report on Diet, Nutrition and Prevention of Chronic Diseases

From FAO Newsroom:
Close cooperation between health and agriculture sectors needed to address growing global burden of chronic diseases 23 April 2003, Rome — FAO and the World Health Organization (WHO) today launched an independent expert report on diet, which will serve as the basis for developing a global strategy to combat the growing burden of chronic diseases.
Diet, Nutrition and the Prevention of Chronic Diseases, the report on a two-year-long Joint FAO/WHO Expert Consultation, (...)

How to win some hearts

Fruit and vegetable consumption reduces the risks of heart disease. Europeans therefore need to be encouraged to eat more fresh fruit and green vegetables. Yet, in most European countries, supplies of this vital source of nutrients and fibre are insufficient to meet the WHO-recommended dietary intake. Should European policy encourage the production of more local produce?
Cardiovascular diseases - including coronary heart disease and stroke - are the main cause of death in Europe. They are (...)

XVII International AIDS Conference: 3-8 August 2008, Mexico City

One of the most important events in the HIV/AIDS calender got under way on 3 August and ran until 8 August 2008. The event was the XVII International AIDS Conference in Mexico city and provided many opportunities for the presentation of important new scientific research and for productive, structured dialogue on the major challenges facing the global response to AIDS.
There were a wide variety of sessions that aimed to meet the needs of various participants and support collective efforts (...)

UNAIDS report shows a slowdown in the global HIV epidemic

A new report released by UNAIDS indicates that the HIV epidemic is slowing or stabilising in many regions. Yet women and young people remain at particular risk of HIV infection. The report calls on governments to improve status of women.
Low knowledge about transmission and ways of prevention
The UNAIDS ’2008 Report on the global AIDS Epidemic’ shows that although young people are waiting longer before becoming sexually active, many still do not have accurate information on HIV (...)

UK publishes new guideline for managing type 2 Diabetes

In 2002, the UK National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) published a suite of five guidelines dealing with different aspects of the care of type 2 diabetes. A new guideline published in 2008 is part of a series commissioned by NICE which aims to ensure that standards of care throughout England and Wales are uniformly high.
The National Collaborating Centre for Chronic Conditions (NCC-CC) at theRoyal College of Physicians UK was asked by NICE to produce this guide, (...)

Scientific summaries easy-to-understand for public

European Commission DG SANCO has published three summaries on scientific opinions on the safety of tooth whiteners, sunbeds and nanotechnology intended for non-scientists. The publications are available from summer 2007.
European Commission DG SANCO aims with these publications to bring the results of the Scientific Committees closer to the public by providing summaries of the most relevant opinions in a format and language which can be easily understood.
There are three non-food (...)

Smoke-free policies are effective according to experts

The latest findings from an international group of experts convened at the International Agency for Research on Cancer in Lyon, show support for smoke-free policies.
The Special Report, with the findings from a series of reviews and evaluations, will be published exclusively online and in the July edition of the Lancet Oncology.
The expert group found sufficient evidence for the following:
implementation of smoke-free policies substantially decreases second-hand smoke exposure (...)

Commission facing compensation claims for second hand smoke death

A European Union Civil Service Tribunal is to hear a claim for compensation from the widow of a Commission official who died of cancer

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** Implementation of the tobacco advertising ban in Europe

*This article has been updated with information about the European Commission’s actions against Spain, Italy, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Germany*.
Directive 2003/33/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 May 2003 on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States relating to the advertising and sponsorship of tobacco products, bans tobacco advertising in the print media, on radio and over the internet in Europe.
It also (...)

Smoke Free public places in Scotland- three months after the ban

On the 19 June 2006, the Scotland House in Brussels presented ’Scotland journey to smoke-free public places’ which aimed to share good practices in health improvements.
As a follow up of the ban of smoking in public places introduced in Scotland on the 26 March 2006, the Scotland House organised a conference in Brussels.
The speakers included:
Michael Aron, Scottish Executive EU Office,
Pam Whittle, Scottish Executive Health Department,
Prof. Peter Donnelly, Deputy Chief Medical (...)

Global Alliance to fight chronic respiratory diseases

The World Health Organisation launched on the 28 March 2006 in Beijing a Global Alliance to fight chronic respiratory diseases through a comprehensive and coordinated approach.
The Global Alliance against Chronic Respiratory Diseases (GARD) is a voluntary alliance of internationally recognized organizations, institutions, and agencies from developing and developed countries working to improve lung health, worldwide. The Global Alliance is an initiative of the World Health Organisation.
The (...)

**UPDATED** UK Presidency holds a Summit on health inequalities

Article updated with the final report. On 17-18 October 2005 the UK Presidency gathered together 500 participants from across Europe to discuss health inequalities and explore ideas on how they can be tackled.
The conference heard the latest data acrossa Europe about the widening health gap between the more prosperous socio-economic groups and deprived communities. The summit featured keynote speeches from ministers, academics and the European Commission and World Health Organisation. (...)

WHO urges for action against preventable chronic diseases

A new report from the World Health Organisation (WHO) points out that preventing chronic disease could save 36 million people by 2015. After having assessed the current trends, the WHO’s report sets out global goals and counters misperceptions.
Entitled “Preventing chronic Diseases: a vital investment”, the report asserts that 60% of all deaths are due to chronic diseases at global level. In 2005, 35 million people will die from chronic diseases (ie cardiovascular disease, (...)

Implementation of the EU Directive on tobacco products

A report by the Commission on the implementation of the Tobacco Products Directive Directive 2001/37/EC found that the provisions of the Directive on health warnings and maximum tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide are being respected by Member States.
However, only 13 Member States have provided information about the ingredients of tobacco products.
Public authorities report to have a very incomplete picture of the ingredients being used in cigarettes, their functions and their health (...)

Driving licences in the EU

The proposal for a European-wide driving license was rejected by a minority of national governments in the Transport Council’s meeting in June 2005.
Transport ministers could not agree on a pan-European license to replace the existing 110 types of licenses that can be found around Europe. Germany, France, Denmark, Austria and Poland created a blocking minority.
They all objcted to the parts of the proposal which would require drivers handing in their current licenses. This objection was (...)

Promoting better jobs for workers with disabilities

To mark the International Day of People with Disabilities, and help to ensure that people with disabilities are given the opportunity to contribute to the social and economic prosperity, the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work issued on December 2004 a fact sheet on the workplace safety and health of people with disabilities.
The fact sheet underlines the rights of people with disabilities to both a fair and safe workplace. It provides user-friendly guidance on how a practical (...)

EU showcases research on nutrition and ageing

A workshop entitled "research on nutrition and ageing" organised by the European Commission, took place in Brussels on 29 and 30 November.
The event comprised presentations of three European research projects funded by the EU.
LIPIDIET examines how specific dietary lipids could prevent Alzheimer’s disease
OPTIFORD investigates whether a better supply of dietary vitamin D would reduce osteoporosis
CROWNALIFE assesses the possibilities for functional foods to fulfil the specific needs of (...)

Chronic Illness and Job Retention

On 19 November 2004, the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions organised a workshop in Brussels to present the findings of their report "Employment and disability - return to work strategies".
The study, which analyses data and policies of seven EU Member States and the EU, shows how OECD countries spend at least twice as much on disability-related programmes as on unemployment programmes.
14% of the working age population (EU15) report a long-standing (...)

Indicators for monitoring public health nutrition in Europe

An EU funded project has made recommendations for how the EU could monitor and measure nutrition and related health issues.
The report makes detailed recommendations on fruit and vegetable consumption, alcohol, breastfeeding, physical activity and nutrients such as vitamins and minerals.
The importance of diet, nutrition and physical exercise on overall health status is well known. The project aimed at developing indicators that are understandable and clear that could be used to track the (...)

Tobacco or Health in the European Union - Past, Present and Future

EU Health Commissioner David Byrne is bowing out on a high note, unveiling a new report on tobacco control and launching a set of 42 images which are to appear on cigarette packages as tough warnings against the dangers of smoking.
At a press conference in Brussels on 22 October, Commissioner Byrne launched the ASPECT report on EU tobacco control, the first comprehensive overview of the tobacco epidemic in the enlarged EU.
This report was produced by a consortium of experts which featured (...)

Facts and figures on health in the EU

Eurostat has released ’Key data on health in the EU’ an internationally comparable set of health data and indicators taken from the most relevant data sources available: Eurostat, the OECD and the WHO.
The publication is divided into six chapters (Population and socio-economic background, Lifestyles, Risk associated with the environment, Working conditions, Leisure and traffic, Health status, Mortality and Health care), and covers many new topics such as human resources in the care and (...)

MEPs emphasize the importance of healthcare

On 11 March 2004, the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs will debate an own-initiative report on health care and the care of the elderly.
The report was drawn up by Karin JÖNS (PES, D) as a response to the Commission Communication The future of health care and care for the elderly: guaranteeing accessibility, quality and financial viability, COM(2001) 774.
MEPs will debate the report’s recommendations on the role for the EU in supporting Member States’ strategies for health care. (...)

EU survey on health, food, alcohol and safety - December 2003

A Eurobarometer survey published in December 2003 examines incidence of chronic illness, long-term treatment and dental health in the existing 15 countries of the EU. The European Commission’s report also provides more depth on health maintenance through doctor’s visits and various screening tests. Women’s health, safety and children’s safety are also examined in detail.
The sample reveals the prevalence of chronic illness across the EU, rheumatism/arthritis (22 %), allergies (18%), high (...)

Europe against Cancer programme saves lives

The Europe Against Cancer programme launched in 1985 had an ambitious goal to reduce the expected number of deaths due to cancer by 15% (from 1 000 000 to 850 000) by the year 2000.
The programme was implemented through a partnership approach with scientific experts, cancer charities and anti-smoking groups, health media, health professionals and national civil servants. The focus was on three main areas: prevention, screening, and education and training.
A recently published review in the (...)

Survey of mental health status in Europe

A Eurobarometer Survey published by the European Commission in April 2003 indicates that almost a quarter of those questioned reported mental health problems, that practical help was difficult to obtain and there is often little or limited social support for sufferers. The highest proportion of mental health problems were identified in Italy and Portugal (with strong differences between sexes, higher rates noted amongst women) and the lowest figures in Finland and Sweden. Occurrence scores (...)

Only 50% of patients with chronic diseases follow treatment !

New data from the WHO indicates that patients failing to take prescribed medicines for their chronic conditions is a problem throughout the world. This is an increasing concern for conditions such as depression, HIV/AIDS and cardiovascular diseases where treatment needs to be administered by the patient themselves. Only 50% of patients adhere to their treatment regimes in developed countries and in developing countries the figures are even lower.
Noncommunicable diseases (e.g. (...)

New WHO Surveillance Tool on Global Chronic Disease

Press Release WHO/41, 14 May 2003
The World Health Organization (WHO) today launched The SuRF Report 1, which captures for the first time chronic disease country risk factor profiles from 170 Member States. This is the first step in a major ongoing initiative to bring noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), such as cardiovascular disease, cancers, diabetes, and respiratory conditions, under control.
Until recently, risk factors such as raised blood pressure, cholesterol, tobacco use, excess (...)

Malaria vaccine developments

An new vaccine in development has shown positive results in paediatric trials against the malaria that is found in the developing world (RTS,S/ASO2A).
The study, published in the "The Lancet", shows the results of a vaccine, developed by GlaxoSmithkline (GSK) Biologics and tested amongst children between one and four years old for a period of six months in Mozambique.
This vaccine was first tested in adults in Belgium, Kenya, The Gambia, and the US. It has since been tested in children in (...)

Highlights from 2004 World Health Assembly

17-22 May 2004, the World Health Assembly is being held in Geneva. On the agenda are the global strategies to promote healthy diets and physical activity, and to improve reproductive health. Other themes include action to limit the impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, updates on WHO activity on health crises and mental health.
WHO Director-General, Dr LEE Jong-wook announced the creation of a new Commission to gather evidence on the social and environmental causes of health inequities, and how (...)

EMEA consultation on patient information

The European Medicines Evaluation Agency (EMEA) has released recommendations for improving information for patients. The document was drafted together with stakeholders groups and covers three main areas:
information provision adapted to patients’ needs
developing appropriate communication tools
increasing public awareness on drugs and EMEA’s roles
EPHA has been involved in developing the recommendations on pharmacovigilance.
Patient information has been a key political issue and the (...)

OECD 2004 forum addresses health and finance

The OECD Forum 2004 is entitled ’Health of nations’ and will tackle some of the key issues on the international policy agenda, such as the health of the global economy, the health of multilateral co-operation and the health of our citizens.
Themes include human rights and health, ageing, equity of access to healthcare, sustainable development and communicable diseases. Speakers include health and finance ministers from OECD countries, senior WTO, EU and OECD officials.
The forum will be (...)

Australian report highlights the benefits of investment in health

The Australian Ministry of Health and Ageing has produced a study of the Returns on Investment in Public Health: An Epidemiological and Economic Analysis.
The report describes an epidemiological and economic analysis of five public health programs, namely: programs to reduce tobacco consumption, coronary heart disease, HIV/AIDS, measles and Hib-related diseases and road trauma. Specifically the research details the financial and economic return on investment of past public health programs (...)

Pharmacovigilance - an introduction

The European Medicinces Evaluation Agency (EMEA) has a working group on Pharmacovigilance. Emmanuel Trenado has been organising input on behalf of EPHA member organisations. He has drafted this introductory text on the question of pharmacovigilance. Comments welcome until the end of August 2003.
While you are having your breakfast, you hear on the radio that a certain medicine against cholesterol or against insomnia or pain has been taken off the market, that there have been some deaths, (...)