Policy : merging health & society
Economies & European partnerships
The European Commission calls for closer collaboration for links between
health and society. Following the recent launch of the newly proposed
structure by Mrs. Von der Leyden:
College of Commissioners,
it has been proposed that the Commission moves two units medical
devices and pharmaceuticals from the DG GROW to DG SANTE.
Mrs. Von der Leyden’s
mission letter for Health calls for the assigned Commissioner-designate,
Stella Kyriakides
to work on top priorities for the European Commission and Member
States. Reference is made to the new regulatory framework on medical
devices; the creation of a European Health Data Space to promote data
exchange; action on Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan; and the full
implementation of the European One Health Action Plan against
Antimicrobial Resistance.
Notably research will now be under a broader portfolio on “Innovation
& Youth” requiring regular investments in the area on disruptive
research and breakthrough innovations, including the area of a true
European Research Area. However, some
concerns have been expressed by MEPs relating to the merging of research and education within the portfolio.
Another notable change, underscoring modifications to the previous
design, can be observed through the EU Health Programme that is being
assimilated into the European Social Fund + . The current EU Health
Programme runs until 2020. However, a new approach is being set out for
the upcoming programme, due to begin in 2021. It will no longer be a
stand-alone programme but will be a strand of the European Social Plus
(ESF+).
Differentiating between the EU Public Health and Healthcare policies
With regard to Public Health priorities, the European Public Health Alliance has presented the
EU Public Health Policies
study. One of the authors point out these policies are often confused
and does not capture the full extent of public health. More precisely
this can be noticed in the definition of public health given by the WHO
which includes wellbeing and not just the absence of disease.
The opportunity to promote public health lies in a wide range of policy
areas and not only those that oversee health systems or health care
delivery.
Read about Mrs. Von der Leyden’s mission letter to Commissioner-designate on health here
