Euro Brief


March 2007. No: 3/2007 European Commission: Political priorities for 2008
The European Commission has published its annual policy strategy for 2008. This outlines its political priorities for the next year. A number are of interest to the health sector:
  • Publication of the EU Action Plan on Drugs 2009-2012
  • Overarching theme of labour law and flexicurity - this is likely to include working time
  • Review of the EU’s legal framework for pharmaceutical products
  • Recommendation on patient safety and quality of health services
  • Modernisation of the legislation on medical devices
  • Initiative on telemedicine for chronic disease management
  • Developing infrastructure for health crisis preparedness
  • Health workforce
Europe not prepared for influenza pandemic
A report by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has warned that Europe is not prepared for an EU-wide influenza outbreak. The report concludes that both the EU and individual Member States have made major progress in preparing for an influenza pandemic, but that they are not expected to be fully ready before 2010 at the earliest. The ECDC is set to deliver an updated status report on pandemic preparedness in late 2007. Its latest report can be viewed at:

http://ecdc.europa.eu/pdf/Pandemic_preparedness.pdf

Ministerial conference on HIV-AIDS prevention
The German EU Presidency held a high level Ministerial meeting earlier this month on HIV/AIDS prevention. Ministers discussed a new report by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control which highlights the need to increase the uptake of voluntary HIV testing and counselling to reduce the number of HIV-infected people who are not aware of their infection. At the end of the conference, delegates signed a joint declaration cementing their commitment to combat the disease at the global level. The so-called ‘Bremen Declaration’ calls on media, civil society and the private sector to join in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Public consultation - provision of information to patients
The European Commission has launched a public consultation to discuss ways to improve the information available to patients on health and treatment-related issues. The consultation focuses on a draft model package of information on a disease (using diabetes as an example) and quality of information principles. Responses can be submitted until 4 May 2007. Following this consultation, the Commission will present the results of the exercise to the Pharmaceutical Forum's working group on information to patients, which will then prepare conclusions and proposals for the next high level Pharmaceutical Forum due to meet at the end of June 2007. The BMA is considering whether to respond to this issue.

For further information, please see:
http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_overview/other_policies/pharmaceutical/pharma_consultation_en.htm

This consultation is likely to be followed later this year by a further consultation on the ‘provision of information on medicines’ i.e. direct to consumer advertising.

Health services discussed in European Parliament
MEPs have once more debated the provision of cross border health services. Both the public health committee and the employment committee adopted reports on the issue that are largely supportive of the BMA position. The internal market committee is leading on the subject and will adopt its report in early April. EU Health Ministers will hold an initial discussion on the issue at their meeting in April.

European Working Time Directive
The BMA has finalised its response to the European Commission consultation on labour law. The response focuses on the issue of working time and calls for concerted efforts to be made to ensure that the 48-hour working week for junior doctors is introduced on schedule. The European Parliament held a public hearing on labour law this month. At the hearing, EU Employment Commissioner Vladimir Spidla re-stated his desire to see Member States reach a compromise on working time and called for it to remain on the political agenda.

New EU rules will affect MRI scanners
Medical specialists, MEPs and patients groups have joined forces to ensure that new EU health and safety legislation will not restrict the use of MRI scanners. The Electromagnetic Fields Directive, set to be enforced in the UK next year, covers a wide range of devices from mobile phones and microwave ovens to MRI scanners. Doctors are concerned that the rules will limit the amount of time staff will be able to spend near MRI machines while they are in use. The European Commission is aware of the problem and is writing to European governments to inform them that it is monitoring the situation. If evidence emerges that medical examinations could be adversely effected by the rules, it will consider adding an amendment to the law to address the problem.

European Parliament debates alcohol strategy
MEPs this month debated their response to the European Commission's alcohol strategy which was published last year. In their draft report, MEPs welcomed the strategy and called for a number of initiatives such as limiting the sale of alcopops, adopting a limit of 0% alcohol for new drivers, limiting alcohol advertising and extensive educational campaigns to warn people if the dangers of alcohol abuse. The report will be debated again in April. On a related note, the European Commission held a number of meetings with those stakeholders invited to take part in the new Alcohol and Health Forum this month. The forum will be officially launched on 7 June. For more information, please contact the Brussels Office.

New efforts to combat tuberculosis
The EU Health Commissioner has called for concerted European action to combat new drug resistant strains of TB. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control will ask all Member States to draft individual action plans for fighting TB before the end of the year as well as writing an overarching European action plan.

Combating trans-fatty acids in food
Four MEPs have tabled a written declaration to the European Parliament to reduce and ultimately ban the use of trans-fatty acids in food. The declaration has to be signed by half of all MEPs before it can be adopted.

Public consultation - Social reality of Europe
The European Commission has launched a public consultation designed to take stock of the present social realities and trends in European societies. Access to good health is one of the key areas that the Commission wishes to assess. It is asking for views on issues such as health inequalities, obesity and prescribing. The consultation is open until 31 December 2007 and further information can be found at:

http://ec.europa.eu/citizens_agenda/social_reality_stocktaking/index_en.htm

New Chair of Parliament’s public health committee
The Czech MEP, Miroslav Ouzky, has been appointed Chair of the European Parliament’s environment and public health committee. A former hospital doctor, Ouzky has been a member of the committee for two years but, controversially, had rarely attended meetings and has never prepared a report for it.

UK wins Presidency of Standing Committee of European Doctors
Dr Michael Wilks, current Chairman of the BMA Representative Body was elected President of the Standing Committee of European Doctors at its meeting earlier this month. Dr Wilks will assume the Presidency for the 2008/9 period starting in January 2008.

© British Medical Association 2008

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