The Presidency is drawing to a close. Minister for Health and Social Affairs Göran Hägglund and Minister for Elderly Care and Public Health Maria Larsson can look back on six busy months. eHealth, antimicrobial resistance, patient mobility and alcohol and health are some of the issues addressed by the ministers. “Chairing the EU meetings has been an incredible privilege”, says Göran Hägglund. “And I think that we have managed to turn things around by putting focus on the patient rather than having the system as a starting point with patients coming second.

Photo: Gunnar Seijbold/Regeringskansliet

Minister for Health and Social Affairs Göran Hägglund and Minister for Elderly Care and Public Health Maria Larsson can look back on six eventful months.

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Another issue that the Presidency has had to address is the new influenza.
“It is an issue that we had not quite planned for, but one that many countries have wanted included on the agenda. We have assisted one another in this and I believe that we have addressed the issue successfully”, says Maria Larsson.

Issues in the health field addressed in the autumn:

Antimicrobial resistance

Ministers adopted conclusions on antimicrobial resistance in December. The conclusions include incentives to develop new, effective antibiotics. In the conclusions the Commission is also instructed to return with an action plan for the development of new, effective antibiotics within 24 months.

eHealth

The EU has gone from seeing eHealth as a purely technological issue to discussing instead the use and benefits of various eHealth services to patients and health services. Examples of eHealth include electronic medical records, electronic prescriptions, digital X-ray images and health information directed at citizens via web portals.

Alcohol and health

The Commission has been urged by the ministers to support the work of the EU Member States to reduce alcohol-related harm. Part of the focus is on protecting young people, children and unborn children. The Commission is also urged to present a final report in 2012 on the implementation of the strategy and begin analysing an alcohol strategy that should take over after 2012.

The pharmaceuticals package

The proposals in what is known as the pharmaceuticals package have two main aims; firstly, to prevent counterfeit pharmaceuticals entering the legal market and, secondly, to strengthen the system for pharmacovigilance, which regulates pharmaceuticals after they have been released onto the market. Discussions on this issue will continue during the Spanish Presidency.

Influenza A, the H1N1 pandemic

During autumn, ministers have discussed lessons learnt and future challenges and cooperation. On 12 October, the Presidency called an extra Council meeting on the new influenza A. Member States themselves decide which groups will be prioritised for vaccination, but urged the Commission to develop a mechanism for Member States to make vaccines available to other Member States that do not have sufficient quantities. The EU countries also agreed on developing cooperation on information on the influenza and to continue providing support to countries outside the EU.

Tobacco

The Council has adopted a recommendation that calls on the Member States to use legislation to protect their citizens from tobacco smoke in the workplace, indoor public places and on public transport.

Patients’ rights when seeking healthcare in other EU countries

The ministers were not able to reach a political agreement on the Directive on patients’ rights in cross-border healthcare. The issue will be discussed further during the Spanish Presidency.

Healthy and dignified ageing

The EU Member States have agreed on increased cooperation for healthy and dignified ageing through the exchange of experience and good practices and other measures. They have also urged the European Commission to undertake a review of ongoing EU work in the area of the elderly, and, if appropriate, to produce an action plan for further measures by 2011 at the latest.

Read more about the decisions in the articles on the right.