“Together for Health”:
A New EU Health Strategy
Clare Siddall
Health Strategy Unit
European Commission
Regional Policy Open Days
Brussels, 10 October 2007
Overview
1. Why a Health Strategy now?
2. Results of the Consultations
3. What will the Strategy
Framework look like?
4. Actions under the Strategy
5. Implementation Mechanism
6. Next Steps
2
Health Challenges and EU Action
Health investments through Structural Funds etc
Health information and Health Portal
Expanding EU:
growing health gaps
Interactions with WHO
Citizens want
more
control
Projects funded
Cross-sectoral work
Ageing
Population
Climate Change, Pandemic and
Bioterrorism Threats
Globalisation
New Technology
and Innovation
ECDC
Organ Donation
Lifestyle Related Diseases
Migration &
Cross Border
Healthcare
White paper on Nutrition
Communication on Alcohol
Tobacco control strategy
3
Pharmaceutical Forum
Health Services Initiative
4
Health Strategy:
Consultation Results
2004 ‘Reflection Process’
Consultation:
Mainstreaming cross-policy approach
Focus (further) on promotion
Bridge health inequalities
Tackle global health issues
Address other key issues: ageing, technology,
cross border issues
5
Health Strategy:
Consultation Results
2007 Consultation – 155 responses:
Health in All Policies
Health inequities
EU should be strong in global issues
Focus on health promotion
Take action where EU added value is clear
Development and access to comparable data
EU, Member States and stakeholders should
work together for concrete results: the
strategy's success linked to the sense of
ownership at local, regional and national
level.
6
Principles for the
Strategy
1 – a Value-Driven approach
*Health as a Fundamental Right
*Engaging with Citizens, improving information
and data, equity, solidarity, etc...
2 – “Health is Wealth”
*HLY in the Lisbon Agenda
*Recognising the economic benefits of costeffective health investments
3 – Health in All Policies
*Bilateral work with (e.g.) Regional Policy on
Health Investments, Employment on healthy
workplaces, Enterprise on innovation
*Encouraging new partnerships at all levels
4 – Global Health
*Strengthening EU’s voice on global stage
7
*Tackling shared issues such as pandemic, climate change
Strategic Themes for
the Strategy
1 – Support HEALTHY AGEING through a
lifecycle approach and reduce inequities in
health
2 – Protect citizens from threats to health
such as CLIMATE CHANGE
3 – Support a sustainable future for health
and health systems through
NEW TECHNOLOGIES
8
Actions under the Strategy I
Ongoing Actions will contribute to achieving
the Objectives
E.g.
Strategies on Nutrition and Alcohol
Continuing work to increase the use of
Structural Funds for Health
Continuing work to strengthen cooperation with
international organisations on health
Improving access to medicines and fighting
counterfeit medicines
9
Actions under the Strategy II
Some Actions are already planned for the
near future:
E.g.
Review of the remit of the ECDC
Community Framework for Safe, High Quality and
Efficient Health Services
Comms on childhood immunisation, climate
change, cancer, Strategy on Mental Health
New system for improving collection of health
information
…and many more ongoing and new actions will
10
be included throughout the life of the
Strategy
Implementation:
Structured Cooperation
Mechanism
‘Together for Health’ needs to be implemented
by all players in partnership
New mechanism is likely to include a Health
Strategy Committee with Member States to:
- develop guidelines and exchange good
practice
- report and make recommendations
- agree indicators and measure progress
Will have links with bodies such as the
Committee of the Regions
Accompanied by:
Review of existing mechanisms and bodies and
11
a fresh look at involvement of other
Next steps
1. Adoption of the Strategy White
Paper in 2007
2. Council Conclusions including
setting up the Implementation
Mechanism
3. Selection of indicators to measure
progress, implementation, regular
monitoring of results
12
Thank you!
13