European Commission recently adopted 
a new Health Strategy

Based on: eHealthNews.eu 
27 October 2007

EU Health Commissioner Markos Kyprianou says: "Migration, the mobility of health professionals and patients, the risks posed by pandemics and bioterrorism, all represent additional challenges. So do globalisation and climate change. The time has come for the EU to develop a strong and comprehensive strategy on health". The importance of research to the strategy, is also underlined by Kyprianou: "health policy must be based on the best scientific evidence derived form sound data and information, and relevant research".

As a first objective , o ur ageing population means that the development of geriatric medicine needs to be actively promoted, and we need to improve our understanding of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's. Meanwhile, - and a second objective - protecting the citizen from emerging health threats will require the strengthening of mechanisms for surveillance and response to health threats, the strategy states. Finally, the third objective concerns the promotion of dynamic health systems. For Kyprianou, "new technologies have the potential to revolutionise healthcare and health systems and to contribute to their future sustainability," as the strategy wrote. "eHealth, genomics and biotechnologies can improve prevention of illness, delivery of treatment, and support a shift from hospital care to prevention and primary care." However, the Commission warns that new technologies must be evaluated properly and the ethical issues relating to them need to be addressed. Commissioner Kyprianou said: "Ultimately, the prosperity of the European Union largely depends on the health status of its citizens."

The strategy sets out 18 concrete priority actions for the next two years for both the Commission and the Member States, and further actions will be proposed throughout the strategy's lifespan.

The Commission notes that health research is due to be financed through its own priority in the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) and via the new Joint Technology Initiative on Innovative Medicines. The Competitiveness and Innovation Programme (CIP) and regional funds are also cited as potential resources for research funding.

To access related EC Documents and Papers: 

• http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_overview/strategy/health_strategy_en.htm
• http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/cooperation/health_en.html