Non-communicable Diseases

On the 19-20 September, the second UN Summit dedicated to Health took place and focused on non communicable diseases (NCDs). Although the Summit recognized that the global burden of NCDs constitutes one of the major challenges for the twenty-first century, world leaders failed to set concrete objectives and targets to address it. The expected outcome of the UN Summit was the adoption of a Political Declaration addressing the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases. While the (...)

The WHO European Region met in Baku, Azerbaijan from 12 to 15 September , for the 61st session of the Regional Committee for Europe. Member States adopted an Action Plan on the Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases, dropping targets and indicators that were initially proposed. Taking into account the results of other non-communicable diseases policies, i.e the first Global Ministerial Conference on Healthy Lifestyles and Noncommunicable Disease Control that took place in (...)

On 2 March 2011, an event on EU Colorectal Cancer Policy was organised in the European Parliament. The event was organised as a follow-up to a successful Written Declaration 68/2010 on the Fight against Colorectal Cancer in the EU. EPHA participated in the debate. The debate, chaired by Pavel Poc MEP (Czech Republic, S&D) and moderated by Jo Leinen MEP (Germany, S&D, chair of the ENVI Committee), gathered a number of decision makers such as the Health and Consumers Commissioner (...)

During the month of October, several conferences took place on chronic diseases. The issue has been one of the priorities of the Belgian Presidency of the European Union. Ministerial Conference on "Innovative approaches for chronic illnesses in public health and healthcare systems" On 20 October 2010, the Belgian Presidency organised a Ministerial Conference on "Innovative approaches for chronic illnesses in public health and healthcare systems". Ms Laurette Onkelinx, Deputy Prime (...)

After the great success of the Written Declaration on the fight against breast cancer adopted in May 2010, cancer-proactive MEPs have launched two other declarations to support the fight against cancer. Pavel Poc MEP (S&D, Czech Republic), Frieda Brepoels MEP (Greens, Belgium), Cristian Silviu Buşoi MEP (ALSE, Romania), Jo Leinen MEP (S&D, Germany) and Alojz Peterle MEP (EPP, Slovenia) together launched a Written Declaration on fighting colorectal cancer in the European Union. (...)

Health care costs, and especially those related to the treatment of diabetes, have risen dramatically over the last 10 years in Finland. A national plan coordinated by EPHA member the Finnish Diabetes Society is contributing to lower expenditures by firmly emphasising the value of early detection and prevention. During a recent visit in Helsinki, EPHA’s Governance and Membership Coordinator Sascha Marschang had a meeting with the Tampere-based director of the Finnish Diabetes (...)

The fact that cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death among women in Europe remains an underrecognised fact. On 27 April 2010 MEPs reunited to highlight it at an event entitled ’Red alert for Women’s hearts’ held in the European Parliament with the support of EPHA member the European Heart Network and the European Society of Cardiology. More women die from CVD than from all cancers combined, yet despite this many women - and many of their physicians - (...)

On 19 April 2010, more than 50% of Members of the European Parliament sent a strong signal to EU institutions by calling for national breast screening programmes to be implemented. Around 330 000 women are yearly diagnosed with breast cancer amongst which more than 90 000 die. Given that deaths could be avoided with appropriate and effective cancer screening, five MEPs initiated a Written Declaration on the fight against breast cancer in the European Union, which was successfully adopted (...)

Although alcohol and tobacco taxes are harmonised across Europe, while respecting the EU taxation harmonisation rules (minimum tax principle) Denmark has decided to go beyond the established minimum levels by taxing certain products higher. As part of its 2010 tax reform, Denmark intends to implement the following changes: increased taxation of tobacco ; In-store alcopops prices will increase. Cider as well as alcoholic drinks based on cider and fruit wines will also be hit; (...)

On 14 April 2010, the European Parliament organised an event to launch the "European Colon Cancer Campaign – Screening saves lives – and money". The European Colon Cancer Campaign aims to provide tools to help save lives by developing prevention and strategies for early detection, notably through screening notably. It is organised by Prevent Cancer Partnership. The European Parliament event was chaired by Alojz Peterle MEP (EPP, SLO) the EP Rapporteur for the Cancer (...)