The Hungarian Presidency took over the rotating presidency of the European Union from Belgium on 1st January this year. In terms of health priorities, the Hungarian Presidency’s overarching theme will focus on “Patient and Professional Pathways in Europe”. Under this comprehensive umbrella, the Hungarian Presidency is aiming to give priority to, among other things, “Action for Prevention” by organising an expert level conference on 30-31 May 2011, that will provide a forum for presenting and exchanging views on best practices, concrete actions, awareness raising campaigns and materials in Member States, which have proved to be successful in promoting a healthier lifestyle, especially among children and young people.

Building on the achievement of the Belgian Presidency’s work in regards to healthcare workers, one of the current presidency’s themes focuses on “Investing in the Health Care of the Future and Human Resources for Health”. During an informal health ministerial meeting, the Hungarian Presidency aims to raise issues like how the necessary knowledge-base, stock of experts, increased co-operation, joint research, exchange of information and best practices could be established to support Member State governments in their efforts to modernise their health care systems. eHealth has also become an essential keyword in modernising healthcare services. In this vein, the Hungarian Presidency is keen to promote the role of e-Health in cross-border care, in relieving workforce shortages and in IT support in health policy decision making is organising a Ministeral level conference in Budapest on 10-13 May.

Injury prevention, mental health and health security are other key issues to be address during the Hungarian leadership.

John Bowis welcomes political agreement on cross-border Directive.

Health First Europe’s Honorary President and former MEP rapporteur of the draft directive on patient’s rights in cross-border healthcare, John Bowis, welcomed the political agreement reached at the EPSCO council meeting of ministers on health and consumer’s policy yesterday. This agreement clears the way for a second reading at the European Parliament.

“As the former rapporteur on the cross-border directive, I am extremely happy about this agreement. This is a real step forward for patients in Europe and for our health policies. It has been worthwhile the wait”, said Bowis.

In Bowis’ view, “this political agreement is important not only because it puts health policy back on the European agenda but because during the negotiations politicians understood that values of quality and safety are of paramount importance for healthcare services in Europe.”

The compromise has been possible thanks to the efforts of the EU Spanish Presidency presented the European Health Ministers a compromise text on the draft directive on the application of patients’ rights in cross-border healthcare last week. The initiative aims at ensuring the right of patients to enjoy the same rights when receiving cross-border healthcare as they would have enjoyed if they had received comparable services in the Member State of affiliation.

Since the European Commission launched its small business act for Europe in 2008, several discussions have been going on concerning the thorny issue of late payment. Up to 80 per cent of the medical sector is composed of SMEs and late payment nowadays is a cause for disinvestment in research and development, and even bankruptcy. What does that mean for patients? It means that the know-how and expertise that comprise the core competence of each company is put in jeopardy even though there is demand for their services. This means that the products and services that those companies intend to develop for better treatment services will never be available because they cannot fund their business.

Read our news piece here.

The European Commissioner designate for Health and Consumer Policy, the Maltese John Dalli faced a public hearing on Thursday 14th January by the European Parliament’s Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee (ENVI) in association with the EP Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee. The EP Agriculture and Rural Development Committee were also represented. MEP’s focused their questioning on patient rights, the pharmaceutical package, legislation on food derived from cloned animals, genetically modified organisms, the proposal on food information for consumers, protection of children and the question of collective redress.

Mr Dalli stressed during his intervention that if finally elected, he will be working to empower patients and consumers and ensure that they are better informed on their decisions. He also expressed concern about the sustainability of the health sector and on health inequalities across the European Union. He referred to the European Union’s limitations on health and stressed that it is up to Member States to develop and implement health policies but he ensured that where EU can play a role to improve people’s lives, he will be working on that.

Asked about the ongoing Cross-Border directive that failed to reach a political agreement among Member States last December and at present has been suggested to be withdrawn, he replied by saying that he expects to be working with the current EU Presidency to try to move forward this initiative and reach a political agreement during his mandate. Concerning the pharma package, Mr Dalli stated that he aims at a more patient orientated approach that “brings more patient perspective” into the current proposals. He intends to work on moving forward with the two non controversial points of the current proposed legislation on pharmaceuticals and, is willing to leave the discussion on patient information to another time.

Simultaneously he reassured the stakeholders that the medical industry should remain competitive and this will also be in his mind during the mandate. In essence, Mr Dalli convened the message “Consumers first, Patients first” showing plenty of motivation and initiative to begin office. Parliamentary hearings will continue until the end of next week and the European Parliament will carry out its vote on 26 January. If the Commissioners are appointed with no further delays, the European Commission should be able to start the new mandate during the first week of February.

David Byrne, the Patron of Health First Europe and former European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, welcomes the adoption of the proposal for Directive on patients’ rights in cross-border healthcare.

In a statement he said: “HFE welcomes the adoption by the College of Commissioners of the long awaited draft proposal for a Directive on the application of patients’ rights in cross-border healthcare. HFE is a firm supporter of patients’ mobility throughout Europe and has been promoting equal access to medical care and innovation, regardless the patient’s nationality, since its creation. HFE particularly welcomes the European Commission stance to ensure high standards for patient safety and quality of care in every Member States. Finally, HFE would like to encourage the development of cooperation between Member States regarding eHealth, data collection and health technology assessment and particularly supports the European Commission’s proposal in this respect”.

For more information about the Directive, please click here.

On 20 May 2008, Health First Europe replied to the European Commission’s Consultation on Patient Safety.

HFE welcomes the European Commission’s goal of increasing patient safety in the EU by consulting health stakeholders and civil society. HFE is now looking forward to the upcoming European Commission Communications on Patient Safety and on Healthcare Associated Infections, which are expected towards the end of 2008.

Download below HFE response to the consultation.