Development and Health

European Immunization Week stresses need for better understanding of vaccination

On April 25, EPHA attended the European Voice lecture "Understanding Vaccination: what we have and what we need" organised as a part of the European Immunization Week 2012. The event’s objective was to shed some light on the latest developments in vaccine science. Dr Béhazine Combadière, research director and expert in innovative vaccine design and immunology at the Sorbonne University, (Paris) structured her lecture into two parts. The first dealt with what we have the history of (...)

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 (...)

Call for Tender: Scoping of Policies and Preparedness to Implement WHO Code on International Recruitment of Health Personnel

Following its report in early 2011 on the Human Resources for Health challenges faced by the five biggest EU countries and their preparedness to implement the WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel, EPHA partner Action for Global Health has issued a call for tender for a scoping of the situation in the remaining 22 Member States. The tender is for a desk-based contract for which Action for Global Health is looking for a suitable consultant. The (...)

***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 (...)

Is there a relationship between health behaviours and educational outcomes? new WHO report

The WHO European Office for Investment for Health and Development, together with the Ministry of Health and the Veneto Region in Italy, published a report on ‘The impact of health and health behaviors on educational outcomes in high-income countries: a review of the evidence’. The report of The WHO European Office for Investment for Health and Development underlines that there could be a causal relationship between health and education in high income countries. The research (...)

Conference conclusions: EPHA 2011 Annual Conference “Europe 2020: Delivering a healthy and sustainable future for all?”

Are you also concerned or simply curious whether Europe 2020 will deliver a healthy and sustainable future for all? The participants of our conference were univocal that “not yet”. In order to achieve these goals it needs to be strengthened by a comprehensive health equity approach in all flagships and pillars of the Europe 2020. EPHA Press Release: Life expectancy of the poorest is eight years shorter than the most wealthy : EPHA calls for EU action Conference conclusions - (...)

WHO releases 2010 World Health Report & report on health inequalities in urban areas

The WHO Regional Office for Europe has released two reports: the 2010 World Health Report, launched in Berlin on 22 November at a ministerial conference on health financing hosted by the Government of Germany; and a new report on health inequities in urban settings, released in Kobe, Japan last week. 2010 World Health Report “The World Health Report – Health systems financing: the path to universal coverage” gives practical guidance for governments around the world. It (...)

Changing perspectives: How the EU budget can shape a sustainable future

In the context of the upcoming budget negotiations, a coalition of seven environmental NGOs launched a position on the future EU budget. The group is made up of Birdlife, Conservation International, CEE Bankwatch, EEB, FOEE, Transport & Environment, and WWF. Their position calls for protecting the environment and improving the quality of life for European citizens. It highlighted gaps in tackling climate change, promoting green jobs, and halting the decline of the planet’s (...)

Health 2020 - New WHO Initiative

Plans to develop a new European health policy, ‘Health 2020’ were agreed at the WHO Regional Office for Europe’s annual Regional Committee meeting. This year’s meeting, the first with Zsuzsanna Jakab as the WHO Regional Director for Europe, marked a change in the priorities and vision for public health in the Region. The policy is being developed to accelerate progress towards achieving the European Region’s health potential by 2020 by addressing key public (...)

Towards healthier, more sustainable CAP - challenges and opportunities for Poland

On the 18th of November, a seminar dedicated to a theme of agriculture and public health took place in Warsaw, Poland. The seminar, co-organised by the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) and the European Public Health and Agriculture Consortium (EPHAC), and hosted by the Warsaw University of Life Sciences, brought together multi-sectoral stakeholders with a purpose to debate contribution of European - and in particular Polish - agriculture to public health outcomes. On the eve of the (...)