The European Parliament has approved a new Directive on Trade Secrets which, according to the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) means that trade secrets will outweigh the public interest. EPHA believes there will be a negative impact on health as information on the safety of medicines will be considered commercially confidential and kept secret from […]
Health becomes a trade secret Read More »
In Europe today, 6 of the 7 biggest risk factors for premature death – blood pressure, cholesterol, Body Mass Index, inadequate fruit and vegetable intake, physical inactivity and alcohol abuse – relate to how we eat, drink and move. Rising overweight and obesity across Europe is particularly worrying. The European Commission advocates an integrated approach,
There are considerable obstacles to integrating public health concerns into European agricultural policy. Advocates for healthy food and drink environments are routinely confronted with an oversimplified narrative about growth and jobs. But times are changing; in the recent debates around developing a more sustainable and broader food policy, the discussion is moving beyond the agriculture
Healthy and sustainable food production Read More »
The European Commission website has developed a page where some of the opinions of the EU’s non-food Scientific Committees are presented in a format and language which can be easily understood by non-specialists. The reader can choose between short and easy to read science factsheets (1 page) and web summaries which go into more depth.
Summaries of Scientific Opinions Read More »
Imagine if the best specialists from across Europe could join their efforts to tackle complex or rare medical conditions that require highly specialised healthcare and a concentration of knowledge and resources. That’s the purpose of the European Reference Networks. Interest in becoming part of a Network can be registered from the 16 March 2016 and an
European Reference Networks Read More »
The European Commission has published an inventory of Union and Member State incentives to support research into, and the development and availability of, orphan medicinal products. To date, the Commission has authorised 117 orphan medicines for the benefit of patients suffering from rare diseases, 82{ddf8d179d1bf712bb2a88ff2ad95ebdf63eaa5463c845d2f093b25848387ba96} of which are new active substances. Around 25 of the
Orphan medicinal products Read More »
The European Medicines Agency has launched the PRIME (PRIority MEdicines) scheme, which offers early, proactive and enhanced support to medicine developers to optimise the production of robust data on a medicine’s benefits and risks and enable accelerated assessment. To support earlier access to patients, the Commission has shortened the timeframe for adopting decisions that authorise
Priority medicines Read More »
The Health Programme has a total budget of close to €450 million for 2014-2020 and it supports Member States’ efforts in four specific areas: Promoting health, preventing diseases, and fostering healthy lifestyles. Protecting citizens from serious cross-border health threats. Supporting capacity building and contributing to innovative, efficient and sustainable health systems. Facilitating access to better
EU Health Programme 2014-2020 Read More »
The European Union has set up a European Medical Corps (EMC) through which teams and equipment from the EU Member States can be rapidly deployed. At the moment, nine member states have offered teams and equipment to the corps. For more information about the European Medical Corps, on the europa.eu website
European medical corps Read More »
Vyteris Andriukaitis made the following points in a speech recently: The definition of health as proposed by the World Health Organization is: “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”. Unfortunately for too long we have been focusing on care and cure, while
EU Commissioner for Health V Andriukaitis Read More »
