The #EU4Health coalition calls on EU institutions and national governments to act now and adapt to the new realities brought by COVID-19. In a joint statement, EU4Health members stress how much a common European health policy is essential now, as the EU is currently lacking resources and a strong mandate for necessary action.
Nine ways to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic
EFA, together with 16 European umbrella organizations active in EU health policy, is proposing through the #EU4Health coalition nine tangible ways to effectively deal with the COVID-19 aftermath, ensure access to care and tackle shared European challenges.
Among others, the campaign rallies to boost EU funds and resources for health, strengthen the EU health action under the current mandate and re-think EU healthcare competencies for the future.
Common vision for European health policy needed
While the healthcare community acknowledges and welcomes single small-scale actions of solidarity, it is essential to adopt and deliver a united response to the current crisis. EU4Health is incisively calling for a common vision for health policy along with a supportive EU policy framework to act with joint solidarity across Europe.
Inevitably, this comes with a need to re-assess and re-organise the fundamentals of the EU’s mandate on health. It is high time to permanently entrust the European Union with more resources and stronger competences in the field of public health, especially in emergency situations.
EFA supports call on EU institutions and national governments
Representing more than 150 million people living with allergy, asthma and COPD in Europe, EFA fully endorses this timely and much needed call for a common vision on EU health policy.
“As part of #EU4Health, we fully share the ambition of having a European Health Vision for care and prevention, with an EU roadmap to improve efficiency based on better coordination among national health systems, preparedness, sustainability and minimum standards of care. One of the lessons learnt from this crisis is that the EU needs to promote the well-being of all people and working towards a European Union that supports timely access to affordable, high quality care for all”, EFA Director Susana Palkonen says.
Europe, let’s do more for health!
The COVID-19 crisis has exposed gaps and weaknesses in national health systems but also in the EU health policy framework. Since its creation in 2017, the #EU4Health campaign members have been calling for a strong EU health policy representation and mandate within the EU’s global objectives. The current statement on the nine ways to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic provide guidance for EU institutions and national governments on how to deal with the current coronavirus crisis, but also on how to prepare for a potential future pandemic.
In brief, the call is straight forward: Europe, let’s do more for health!