The European Commission’s Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) launched an open call for expression of interest to join the Critical Medicines Alliance. The set up of the Alliance is one of the key actions to prevent and address shortages of critical medicines announced by the Commission in October 2023. The Alliance will bring together all relevant stakeholders, […]
Read MoreReports confirm the European Health Union is better prepared to combat health threats
Health ranks among the top priorities of European citizens according to recent Eurobarometer surveys. Two new reports published show how the EU has responded to the need and demand for more resilient, robust and equitable health systems, which are better prepared for potential crises. Both documents also spotlight areas in which more work is needed. […]
Read MoreEU Health Data Space: access to your health data across the EU
The EU wants to enable better access to health data for citizens, health professionals and researchers across borders. In May 2022, the European Commission put forward a proposal on the European Health Data Space, which aims to improve the use of health data for research, innovation and policymaking. At the same time, Europeans should have […]
Read MoreEuropean Commission publishes first EU list of essential medicines
The European Commission has published the first Union list of critical medicines, together with the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the Member States’ Heads of Medicines Agencies (HMA). The publication follows the commitment made in the Commission’s Communication on addressing medicine shortages in the EU to accelerate the work on this list, originally announced in the EU’s pharmaceutical […]
Read MoreMental health: member states to take action across multiple levels, sectors and ages
Almost one in two Europeans has experienced an emotional or psychosocial problem in the last year. The recent context of compounded crises (the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russian aggression against Ukraine, the climate crisis, unemployment, and the food and energy price increases) has further worsened the situation, in particular for children and young people. In its conclusions, the Council […]
Read MoreStepping up action to prevent shortages of medicines in Europe
Following recent shortages of critical medicine like certain antibiotics last winter, steps have been taken to prevent such shortages occurring in the EU this winter. The European Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority and the European Medicines Agency have prepared a list of key antibiotics that could face critical shortages during the winter. The Commission has also launched a European […]
Read MoreEU Regions with the highest life expectancy
During the last decade, life expectancy in the EU rose at a relatively consistent pace until 2019, when life expectancy at birth was 81.3 years. Since then, 2020 and 2021 have recorded declines in life expectancy. In 2021, the overall life expectancy at birth in the EU was 80.1 years. The life expectancy for women […]
Read MoreCommission sends request for information to AliExpress under the Digital Services Act
Yesterday, the European Commission formally sent AliExpress a request for information under the Digital Services Act (DSA). The Commission is requesting AliExpress to provide more information on the measures it has taken to comply with obligations related to risk assessments and mitigation measures to protect consumers online, in particular with regard to the dissemination of […]
Read MoreBreast cancer screening rates across the EU
Breast cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer and a leading cause of female mortality in the EU. Prevention is key to lowering the impact of the disease and reducing mortality rates, however, the COVID-19 pandemic had a great impact on preventive healthcare and many screening programs were impacted across EU hospitals and […]
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