Manifesto | Ten priorities to secure health on the EU political agenda
EU ELECTIONS 2024 MANIFESTO of the EU4Health CSA
As a member of the EU4Health Civil Society Alliance, ECCH is a co-signatory to the EU Elections 2024 manifesto.
ECCH emphasises that Health and wellbeing should be systematically considered in all EU political agenda items and given a political priority as high as economic wellbeing has been given in the past.
10 priorities to secure health on the EU political agenda are listed in this manifesto
The mandate of the past European Parliament was shaped by a wake-up call to broaden EU action in health policy. Despite some progress, significant gaps remain. Communicable diseases require further attention, for instance, in terms of access to prevention, treatment, and care. Likewise, non-communicable diseases and social and environmental inequalities in health require urgent action. Health and wellbeing should be systematically considered in all EU political agenda items and given a political priority as high as economic wellbeing has been given in the past. This requires the implementation and deepening of the European Health Union along with stronger participation of civil society organisations (CSOs) in health policy development and implementation.
Ahead of the 2024 European Parliamentary elections, the EU4Health Civil Society Alliance, gathering more than 30 health civil society organisations, calls for health to become a priority on the European Union political agenda. To reach that objective, the EU4Health Civil Society Alliance is bringing forward 10 key priorities to be considered in the European elections.
ECCH wants to highlight two priorities:
7. EU policies improving care for patients and strengthening healthcare systems should promote holistic, person- centred and integrative healthcare.
This includes policies developed with patients, supporting research and innovation, promoting integration and continuity of care to build resilience while making and keeping people healthy. Measures should tackle healthcare workforce challenges, such as shortages, and support upskilling with green and digital skills. The adoption of new tools and technologies should improve disease management, public health promotion and prevention and should be applied to the needs of people with quality, safety and equity considerations. Data collection and analysis should respect privacy and be used in a non-discriminatory manner.
10. The EU should ensure that all policies consider impacts on mental health, physical health, and wellbeing.
Mental and physical health should be systematically considered through an integrative approach in all EU policy developments, such as in finance, education, economy and agriculture. In particular, impact assessments for health and health equity must be implemented, by initiating and facilitating action in non-health public policy areas.
The whole manifesto of the EU4Health CSA can be read here.