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The European Public Health Alliance: Health at the heart of EU policy
Daniela Negri “European Networking Conference” Prishtina, April 2008
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Who we are The European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) is the largest European Platform on health, representing approximately 100 NGOs and not-for-profit members working in the field of health. Our membership is unique in its diversity.
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EPHA members Health advocates Disease specific patient groups
Local Councils Academic researchers Health professionals Consumer groups Environment organisations Development organisations
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Our mission EPHA aims to promote and protect the health interests of all people living in Europe and to strengthen the dialogue between the EU institutions, citizens and NGOs in support of healthy public policies.
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Why is health important?
The common causes of the ill health that affect populations are environmental. “ This explains why some European countries have improved their health while others have not and why health differences between social groups have widened or narrowed as social and economic conditions have changed¹ ”. ¹World Health Organisation People further down the social ladder run at least twice the risk of serious illness and premature death as those near the top.
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Environmental aspects
The social ladder Social and psychological circumstances Early life Social exclusion Working conditions/Unemployment Transport/Urban mobility -People further down the social ladder run at least twice the risk of serious illness and premature death as those near the top. e.g. having few family assets, having poorer education, having insecure employment, living in poor housing. -Social and psychological circumstances can cause long-term stress. Psychological risks accumulate during life increase the chances of poor mental health and premature death. The lower people are in the social hierarchy of industrialised countries, the more common these problems become. -Health effects: Anxiety, insecurity, low self-esteem, social isolation have a direct impact on health in raising the heart rate, diverting blood to muscles and increasing alertness. cardiovascular and immune systems are affected. -If people feel tense too often, they become more vulnerable to a wide range of conditions including infections, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, depression and agression. -The health impact of early development and education lasts a lifetime. Slow or retarted physical growth in infancy is associated with reduced cardiovascular, respiratory, pancreatic and kidney development and function, which increases the risk of illness in adulthood. -Excluded groups are exposed premature death. Stress at work plays an important role in broadening the social status differences in health, sickness absence and premature death. - Importance to reduce the burden of musculosketal disorders and improve the early detection of mental health. IMPORTANE of job quality.
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How to address environmental factors
Government Environmental aspects Communities Workplaces Public and Private institutions
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Environmental aspects
Policy entry Environmental aspects Individual Behaviour Behaviour is shaped by environment: hence, environmental changes would lead to healthier behaviour. Policies should be addressed to the environmental factors to enable full participation in society.
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Why policies should address environmental aspects
Reduction of educational failure Reduction of social insecurity Better health Employment Removal of barriers to healthcare Improving housing and social services
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Health legislation at EU level
Art 152 of the Amsterdam Treaty (1997) “a high level of health promotion shall be ensured in the definition and implementation of all Community policies and activities”. Reform Treaty: Charter of Fundamental Rights and amended art.152 It emphasises: physical and mental health protection monitoring measures to tackle serious cross-border threats to health cross-border cooperation enhancing standards of quality and safety for medicinal products and devices for medical use protection of public health in relation to tobacco and abuse of alcohol. EU Member States decide on healthcare; EU legislates on blood safety and human tissue. However, the EU must respect Member States’ responsibilities for organisation, financing and delivery of healthcare. New focus is given to “measures designed to protect and improve human health and in particular to combat the major cross-border health scourges, measures concerning monitoring, early warning of and combating serious cross-border threats to health, and measures which have as their direct objective the protection of public health regarding tobacco and the abuse of alcohol, excluding any harmonisation of the laws and regulations of the Member States”.
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Why should civil society be involved at the EU level?
The majority of all new legislation comes from Brussels
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The EU Works on: Agriculture, fisheries and food
Business (internal market and entreprise) Culture, education and youth Economy, finance and tax Employment and social rights Energy and natural resources Environment, consumers and health External relations and foreign affairs Justice and citizens' rights Regions and local development Science and technology Transport and travel
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Brussels-based actors
Court of Justice Court of Auditors European Commission European Council European Parliament CoR EcoSoc Professional associations Industry Platforms NGOs Trade Unions Public bodies
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EPHA works by: Information provision Capacity building
Tracking policy issues Information exchange Representation of public health on EU fora Facilitating horizontal information (between membership) Capacity building Providing expertise (workshops, conferences, training sessions) Web-Based tools Face-to-face membership enabling best-practice exchange Coordinated actions Advocacy Networking Awareness raising Representing members’ interests Advocate to promote EU health policies at the highest common denominator rather than lowest. Networking and Partnerships are the means to make our voices heard. Who to lobby: 1) EU institutions,2) ECB, Court of Auditors, 3) Advisory bodies such as the European Economic and Social Committee, Committee of Regions.
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EPHA works on: Health Determinants Health systems EU Affairs
The Second Programme on Community Action in the field of health (2018) adopted in October objectives: Improving citizens’ health security Promoting health by focusing on health inequalities Health information and knowledge At the same time the EC adopted a new Health Strategy: ‘Together for Health: A strategic approach for the EU ’. The Strategy aims to set clear objectives to guide future work on health at EU level, and to put in place an implementation mechanism to achieve these objectives, working in partnerships with Member States. 4 principles and 3 strategic themes: Principles: 1)values-driven approach, 2) links between health and economic prosperity, 3) integrating health in all policies, 4) strengthening the EU voice in global health. Strategic themes: 1) fostering good health in an ageing Europe, 2) protecting citizens from health threats, 3) dynamic health systems and new technologies. Budget: 321,5 million for five years. EPHA advocates for: Health in all policies Stating clear goals Pragmatic approach to meet limited resources Implementation of regulatory framework Commitment from MSs Strengthening role of NGOs.
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Health determinants CAP: subsidy for the production of raw tobacco
How European policies affect lifestyles: CAP: subsidy for the production of raw tobacco CAP, labelling and advertising influence eating and drinking habits Employment legislation has an impact on mental health
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Health systems Healthcare legislation Movement of professionals
Movement of patients Pharmaceutical and medical device regulation
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EU Affairs Reform Treaty Parliamentary Elections
Budget allocation for health Open Method of Coordination Health in all policies
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EPHA’s participation at European and international level
Membership at various EU regulatory agencies’ stakeholder boards such as EFSA and EMEA Secretariat of the EU Parliament’s Health and Consumer Intergroup Secretariat of the Health Policy Forum High level Group participation in ‘Competitiveness of Agro-Business’ Participation at the Alcohol Policy Forum and EU Platform on Diet, Physical Activity and Health Cooperation with WHO
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EPHA: the voice of public health in Europe
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European Public Health Alliance
49-51 rue de Trèves B-1040 Brussels Belgium Tel : Fax :
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