European Commission
15th European Health Forum Gastein
The Commission actively participated in this year’s European Health Forum Gastein (3-6 October) and organised sessions entitled ‘Communicating Health’ and the ‘European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing". The first provided an opportunity to discuss the complex challenges of communicating health both to citizens and policy makers. The second aimed to get the views from a broad range of stakeholders and anticipate the discussions that will occur during the first EIP 'Conference of Partners', planned for 6 November. Commission officials also participated as speakers in various workshops, e.g. on vaccination and social media and the need to invest in health.
Other news from Gastein
Outgoing Health Forum President Guenther Leiner, in his departure speech, addressed the need for a new focus and reform regarding health investment and health services delivery.
Leading health researchers underlined the fact that austerity is leading to an increase in mental illness and suicide rate in crisis-hit countries; however, the current crisis also offers Europe the ‘chance to embrace radical health innovations’.
According to Professor Martin McKee (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine), policymakers ‘need to be much more aware that stringent austerity policies are harming economies as well as the health of populations’. There is growing evidence of the direct negative effects the crisis and austerity policies are having on people's health and healthcare systems. For instance, the Greek Ministry of Health reported an increase of 40% in suicides during the first half of last year, compared to the same period in 2010. A recent study demonstrated an increase of 1% in unemployment is accompanied by an increase in suicides of 0.79%, and when the unemployment rate rises by more than 3%, the suicide rate goes up by 4.45%. Clearly, mental health has deteriorated as a result of austerity measures.
Health Commissioner John Dalli also acknowledged that austerity measures are leading to ‘difficult conditions’, underlining that the Commission’s health department is doing all it can to emphasise the need for sustainable health budgets to be preserved in the crisis. Dalli also said that there was scope for more efficiency in the sector.
It was announced that the Commission will publish its health strategy for the next five years in the short term. This will aim to pave the way for more record sharing and lay the foundations for the type of data management required to enable the personalised medicines sector to flourish.
Professor Helmut Brand, the incoming President of the Gastein Forum, called for the further development and strengthening of the EU health mandate.
For more information and the various speeches and presentations: www.ehfg.org
Directive on organ transplantation
On 9 October, the Commission adopted a Directive to encourage the cross-border exchange of information on organs and their donors. This new Directive establishes three types of procedures:
- Rules for the transmission of information on the organ and donor (type of organ and donor ‘s age, sex and medical history),
- Provisions for the transmission of information to ensure the traceability of organs, incompliance with confidentiality and data security measures,
- Procedures to ensure the reporting of any serious adverse events or reactions.
The new Directive also establishes the obligation for national authorities to exchange and store information on cross-border organ exchanges and to provide a 24/7 service in case of serious adverse reactions or events. It will enter into force 18 months after its publication.
For more information: europa.eu/rapid/midday-express.htmEmployment and social situation in EU remains worrying
The quarterly report on employment in the EU published by the Commission and presented on 28 September states that the situation remains worrying. It notes an increase in the number of jobseekers as well as a deteriorating financial situation for households. Child poverty is also increasing. The report also recalls that the overall economic situation is at its lowest point in three years. The gross household disposable income declined in two-thirds of EU countries between 2009 and 2011. However, huge differences remain between the individual member states.
For the report: ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp
