Health
Nearly a quarter of all children in the EU are at risk of poverty
Est. 2minEurostat has found that almost 20 million children in the EU were at risk of poverty or social exclusion in 2023.
Pandemic agreement negotiations receive ‘a solid zero’ for transparency from stakeholders
Est. 3minStakeholders attending the negotiations on a future pandemic agreement say that new engagement modalities lack transparency and damage trust in the process.
General Court slams Commission for lack of transparency over COVID vaccines contracts
Est. 4minThe Court of Justice of the European Union (ECJ) finds that the European Commission was wrong to restrict access to COVID-19 vaccine purchase contracts to citizens, In a decision handed down on Wednesday (July 17).
Europe-wide class action against Philips to reach out to over a million potential claimants
Est. 5minGlobal Justice Network (GJN) and Italian consumer rights organisation ADUSBEF are promoting a "first-ever Europe-wide class action" against Philips, reaching out to over a million potential claimants who have used the Dutch company's ventilators suspected of releasing harmful chemicals.
Parallel imports and the role of pharmacies still unresolved in pharma package negotiations
Est. 5minThe ongoing pharma package negotiations were marked by Belgium’s focus on combating medicine shortages and shaping the incentives system for new medicines development. Key issues remain in play for Hungary, including parallel imports.
Poland explores xenotransplantation to overcome organ transplant shortages
Est. 5minAt the latest meeting of the Polish Transplant Council, experts discussed the necessity of establishing a team to thoroughly analyse the risks associated with the introduction of xenotransplantation.
Swedish maternity units failing health inspections, understaffing a key factor
Est. 6minSwedish maternity care is failing to meet expected quality criteria standards. According to an alarming new report, only one of the 45 Swedish maternity units passed all of the health inspectorate's examinations.
Political interference risks Slovak health technology authority’s independence
Est. 6minPolitical interference risks the independence of a leading Slovak health institute. Without formal discussion, the Slovak parliament rushed through an amendment changing leadership and funding criteria - the institute's future now depends on the Constitutional Court.
‘Forever chemical’ in water far above limits set in future EU water law, NGO finds
Est. 3minNGO Pesticide Action Network Europe found that a ‘forever chemical’ present in 94% of surface water and 63% of bottled water samples far exceeds limits set in the revised drinking water directive.
EPP’s Liese calls for urgent revision of EU’s Medical Devices Regulation
Est. 5minAhead of next week's European Parliament plenary session in Strasbourg, German Conservative MEP Peter Liese (CDU, EPP) outlined his centre-right group's priorities for the new term, including the urgent revision of the EU's Medical Devices Regulation.
Investment in European healthcare delivering innovation and improved patient care
Est. 6minEurope as a centre for health technology innovation has taken off in recent years with dozens of European companies leading the way in developing innovative solutions with the potential to raise the standard of healthcare and health systems globally.
Unlocking Access: Implementing Innovative Policies to Remove Barriers to Fertility Treatment
Est. 4minSocio-economic inequalities and traditional burdens remain, as opportunities expand for women, in almost all countries, they are waiting longer to have children. The Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 found that women in high income countries are having fewer children than previous generations.
Inclusion is still a problem in museums, an app is trying to fill the gap
Est. 6minIn cultural spaces there are still many barriers for people from a physical, mental and economic disadvantaged background. An EU funded project is developing an app and a kit that thanks to augmented reality and a hands-on approach, will break down these barriers.
Bulgaria agrees to pay pharmacists higher fees, avoiding protest threat
Est. 5minThe Bulgarian government has averted large-scale pharmacy protests, agreeing to pay higher fees to pharmacies supplying patients with free medicines. Protests were threatened over government plans to cut already low fees.
Hungary calls for a new EU action plan on organ donation and transplantation
Est. 13minAhead of a high-level ministerial conference on organ donation in Budapest, the Hungarian presidency of the Council of the EU presents its view on the need for a new action plan on organ donation.
Europe-China cooperation in personalised medicine: paving the way for a scientific common path
Est. 4minWithin the Sino-Eu PerMed Project three delegation visits were organised to foster and increase cooperation between China and Europe. As a result of these visits a policy brief on ethical legal and societal aspects in personalised medicine has been published.
Hungarians facing long hospital waiting lists, dissatisfaction rising
Est. 4minLong waiting lists for scheduled operations at Hungarian hospitals are at the centre of a fierce political debate. Seven thousand patients were added to the lists in just one year, delays can take up to six years.
European agreements with pharma can push development and production, says Belgian MEP Vautmans
Est. 5minA staunch advocate for the European Health Union, Belgium's Hilde Vautmans begins her third MEP mandate with a renewed focus on healthcare equal access, preventive care and digitisation.
Poland leans towards shorter data exclusivity period, one year market protection
Est. 5minWarsaw has sided with the European Commission on the length of the Regulatory Data Protection (RDP) period in the EU Pharma Package. Poland advocates that the incentives scheme should focus on market protection and not last more than a year.
UK’s Labour government puts health at the top of its agenda
Est. 3minThe new Labour government takes office with an ambitious new approach to health, but there are questions over how these plans will be funded.
Czechia lifts ban on blood donation by gay men
Est. 4minNew Czech regulation, which took effect on 1 July, allows gay men to donate blood, a practice previously prohibited.
Germany’s new Medical Research Act will allow pharma companies confidentiality on price
Est. 3minGermany will adopt its Medical Research Act, Thursday (4 July), the new law will allow pharma companies to negotiate the price of patent-protected medicines in private.
EU farm animal welfare: Time for an overhaul?
In this Policy Triangle, supported by Humane Society International/Europe, we delve into the state of farm animal welfare in the EU.
Making cardiovascular health a European health priority will save millions of lives
Est. 11minOnly four days into their Presidency, Hungary will host a conference of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), the idea is to start early in order to agree an action plan over the next six months.