Health & Consumers Directorate General EU Actions in Public Health

2 Health Programme Main Objectives Improve citizens' health security Promote health – including the reduction of health inequalities Generate and disseminate health information and knowledge

3 Health Security Protect citizens against health threats develop EU and Member State capacity to respond to a cross-border threats support development of vaccination policies Improve citizens’ safety patient safety risk assessment organs, substances of human origin and blood What is new? Particular focus on cross-border health threats Development of Community reference laboratories Action on patient safety through high-quality healthcare

4 Promoting Health Foster healthier ways of life and the reduction of health inequalities increase healthy life years reduce health inequalities co-operation on cross-border care Promote healthier ways of life and reduce major diseases and injuries by tackling determinants Action on key health determinants - tobacco, alcohol, nutrition, drugs social and physical environment What is new? Regional policy as key factor in reducing health inequalities Focus on health ageing and children’s health Co-operation between health systems

5 Health Information Exchange knowledge and best practice Support cooperation to enhance best practice through, for example, reference networks Collect, Analyse and Disseminate Health Knowledge Development of health monitoring system with appropriate indicators Mechanisms for analysis and dissemination (reports, Health Portal etc) What is new? Target ‘added value’ issues e.g. gender, children’s health, rare diseases, mental health Focus on citizen-friendly means of dissemination

6 Second Health Programme: Budget (not including EFTA contribution)

Health Information European Information coordination and cooperation Analysing information for making decisions Generating data at European level Enabling European comparability of information European health information strategy

Main priorites Health Information Action on rare diseases Cancer E-health Climate change Healthy Life Years Indicators European Health Examination Survey ECHI European Global Health Report Communication on European Health Information Strategy

Health Threats Mission To provide a high level of human health protection against communicable diseases and other health threats through development of EU level actions and strategies and to support the actions of the Member States in that area To improve preparation and response to public health emergencies To ensure close coordination with other Community policy areas to integrate public health concerns in the fields of communicable diseases and other health threats Three work areas: TEAM 1 Preparedness, Exercises, Information, and Communication TEAM 2 Prevention, Early warning, Response coordination, and Legal measures TEAM 3 Health Security Committee and non-biological threats 24h/7d on-duty service

SANCO C3 Health Threats Unit TEAM 1 Trainings and exercises Regular HEOF (Health Emergency Operation Facility) trainings for SANCO Trainings and exercises with Member States Information and communication HEOF Task force on Communication Task force on Crisis Management Public Health Programme TEAM 2 Implementation of Decision 2119/98/EC establishing an EU Network on communicable diseases surveillance and control Prevention of Communicable Diseases Patient safety and antimicrobial resistance International Health Regulations TEAM 3 Health Security Laboratory issues Chemical and radio nuclear issues International relations

Possible areas of cooperation between DG SANCO and NDPHS on health threats Surveillance and control of communicable diseases Mainstreaming the subject of health threats preparedness and response in other policies

Main areas of activities on health determinants Develop EU level policies on health determinants - Develop partnerships for health Bring in disease prevention Generate and disseminate information and knowledge Support research efforts Facilitate and support national efforts

‘A high level of health protection in all Community policies and activities’ Health strategy 2007: ‘Healthy ageing’ across life cycle EU action across health determinants - nutrition and physical activity, tobacco, alcohol, mental health, …. Health inequalities and socio-economic issues Key settings (schools, the workplace,…) and population groups (children, the elderly) Health to be taken into consideration across EU policy areas

Effective mix of instruments: Tobacco policy Legislation Advertising, Warning messages and pictures Products Link to international work (FCTC) Prevention work: Youth campaigns : ‘Feel free to say no’ : ‘HELP’ - 72 Mio €/4 years 2009/2010: possible new phase Network tobacco control initiatives Exchange Best Practice and develop European projects

Working across policies: Alcohol 25% of men and 10% of women consume too much alcohol – particular problem for young people Discussions with governments and stakeholders 2006: Communication on alcohol-related harm Young people and children Road traffic and drink driving Adults and the workplace Information and awareness raising Evidence base Work across policies and with Member States 2007: Alcohol and Health Forum 70 commitments for action Open Forum in 2008

Developing New partnerships: Nutrition and Physical Activity Alarming rates of obesity in particular in young people – diet/activity key health determinants EU role in food law (labelling, health claims) - agriculture, education, transport, taxation… Consumer information, advertising and marketing Develop new partnerships 2004: Roundtable on Obesity 2005: Platform on Diet, Physical Activity and Health A new strategy 2005: Green Paper (consultation) 2006: White Paper on Nutrition and Physical Activity 2007: High Level Group – Salt initiative

DEBATE ON THE ISSUES FACING THE HEALTH WORKFORCE IN EUROPE The Commission's Annual Policy Strategy for 2008 provides for a Green Paper on the health workforce which is planned for publication towards the end of 2008.

Patient Safety – A Commission Priority in 2008 Consultation – closes 20 May Impact Assessment Proposals to address: Systemic patient safety issues; Healthcare-associated infections. Proposed Commission adoption - Autumn 2008.

Main Elements of Recommendations Likely to address: Reporting and learning systems; Sharing information and experience; Common taxonomy and patient safety indicators; Patient involvement; Redress for patients; Education and training of health; professionals and healthcare cultures. Plus: Prevention and control of healthcare-associated infections.

Health Law & International Unit Health law Evaluation and monitoring of the EU health law Health in all EU legislation Safety and quality of human substances Directives on blood and tissues & cells and policy for organs Ethical questions Tobacco control Advertising ban, tobacco products, smoke-free environments Framework Convention on Tobacco Control International Enlargement and screening of the EU public health law Multilateral: WHO, OECD and Council of Europe Bilateral (CH, US, RU, CN,…), regional, and global health development

Exploring the broader international role Greater involvement in development of international health treaties: FCTC, IHR, IPR- Access to medicines Trade treaties “European Neighbourhood Programme Countries Israel, Jordan, Moldova, Morocco, the Palestinian Authority, Tunisia, Ukraine, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Egypt, Georgia, Lebanon, Algeria, Belarus, Libya, Syria Regional health cooperation: Northern Dimension, South-East Europe, Euromed. A growing number of bilateral agreements with public health element requested e.g. Russia, Switzerland, China, India, USA