In February the European Patients’ Forum (EPF) issued a position on patients’ discrimination across Europe and launched a consultation on cross-border health. In addition, the Norwegian Government expressed its willingness to introduce plain packaging for tobacco products.
EPF position on discrimination in healthcare
The European Patients Forum (EPF) has issued a Position Paper on Discrimination in Healthcare. The paper presents various forms of discrimination patients encounter in when needing healthcare services, and recommendations the respect of five key rights to reduce discrimination: [caption id="attachment_6706" align="alignright" width="300"]
Nurse in hospital. Photo of Zach Frailey.[/caption] - Right of access and equal treatment in healthcare for all; - Right to be protected from discrimination on health status; - Right to respect and to dignity in healthcare facilities; - Right to information and support; - Right for vulnerable groups to participate in anti-discrimination policies. In 2015, EPF of which EFA is member, will also hold consultations to adopt a position on discrimination in education and the workplace.
Implementation of EU Cross-border Health Directive: what are your views?
The freedom to receive health services throughout the EU Member States is an EU right that must be accompanied by guarantees of quality and security to citizens. Before taking any action, patients must be able to access all the information necessary to make an informed choice. This information includes insights of the conditions under which they will receive healthcare in another EU Member State and reimbursement conditions once they return home. The EU Cross-border Healthcare Directive aims at ensuring patients’ rights in cross-border healthcare. However, successful application of this Directive will largely depend on patients’ knowledge of their rights and how the legislation could benefit them. EFA contributed to reflect the patient perspective in the Directive through our work with the European Patients’ Forum (EPF). Following the Directive’s adoption in October 2013, EPF organised a series of dedicated conferences to build knowledge of patient leaders in different countries about the Directive and patients’ rights. A Cross-border Healthcare Summary Report will be published soon to explain the scope of the Directive and provided recommendations to policy-makers and patients’ representatives. In addition to this, EPF is planning to submit further information to the European Commission for the preparation of a report to Council on the implementation of the Cross-Border Healthcare Directive. If you wish to contribute to this piece of policy work, we invite you to take part in the survey. The survey will be available until Thursday, 5 March 2015.
Norwegian Government to consult on proposal for standardised packaging of tobacco products
Smoking remains one of the most significant public health challenges in Europe. Only in Norway, 6,600 people die from diseases caused by smoking. Despite the fact that smoking rates among young people (16-24) are declining, Norway has experienced a sharp increase in snus consumption among the same age group: 18% of youngsters use snus daily. Snus is a smokeless tobacco very popular in Scandinavia, but also harmful to health. The large increase in snus consumption is explained by the development of products that appeal to young people, such as nice design of snus boxes, new colours and flavourings such as vanilla, menthol and licorice. Aware that young people are influenced by tobacco packaging design, the Norwegian government will present a proposal to standardise all tobacco packaging by specifying mandatory colors (dark/dull green), as well as specifications concerning other package design elements. Plain tobacco packaging was introduced in Australia in 2012 and studies show a significant decline in daily smoking after this introduction. Plain packaging is also proposed for law in the United Kingdom, Ireland and New Zealand and it is currently being considered in Finland and France.