Healthy citizens
Europe eating itself poorer with rising diabetes costs, data, health-tech could reverse trend
Est. 8minDiabetes is draining cash from public and private sector budgets. It’s time for Europe to curb its sugar high, get fiscally fit and economically strong – the EU needs a French Fries Revolution.
Diabetes and cardiovascular disease causing profound clinical, psychosocial, socioeconomic impacts
Est. 6minCardiovascular disease related to diabetes is wrecking Europe’s public health budgets at an astonishing rate. Patients with diabetes are three times more likely to develop CVD, while one in three will experience some form of vision loss.
Progress on Alzheimer’s Disease stagnating, warns federation chief
Est. 5minProgress on Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia is stagnating, Alzheimer Disease International CEO Paola Barbarino has warned, yet it’s the most common form of dementia in Europe's elderly.
Putting people first: why healthy buildings matter
Est. 5minAs member states prepare to ramp up the building renovation rate, there is an unprecedented opportunity to hardwire health aspects into the built environment. The brand-new edition of the Healthy Buildings Barometer maps why and how health, energy and climate …
Human rights NGOs tackle France’s inaction towards rights of disabled people
Est. 3minHuman rights NGOs denounced on Wednesday (17 April) the French government's failure to ensure that the rights of people with disabilities are respected, one year after the Council of Europe issued its reprimands.
MEPs want to include abortion in EU Charter of Fundamental Rights
Est. 4minThe European Parliament voted in favour of enshrining the right to abortion in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU on Thursday, but its chances of succeeding are slim as it would require green light from all member states.
Pet ownership is harder, costs are rising, says vet federation VP
Est. 9minThe rising costs of pet food and pet healthcare are making pet ownership harder, says Ann Criel, VP of the Federation of European Companion Animal Veterinary Associations. Euractiv spoke in-depth with Criel at the EU Companion Animals Stakeholder Summit.
Europe’s human-animal bond, a special report on EU companion animals
Est. 1minA Human-Animal Bond Report was launched at the EU Companion Animals Stakeholder Summit on 20 March in Brussels, advocating advancements in companion animal policy to improve human and animal health and wellbeing.
Yes, to pet-friendly EU policies, but do we need a commissioner for animals? asks Kaljurand
Est. 6minMEP Marina Kaljurand (S&D) has questioned whether the European Commission should include a commissioner dedicated to animals, despite the proven benefits of pet ownership.
New rare diseases action plan on horizon, Europe at turning point
Est. 7minRare Disease Day, 29 February, marks a moment in which Europe is facing a generational opportunity to scale up programmes capable of improving millions of lives. A new data-led, 360-comprehensive strategy is called for by rare disease experts.
Stakeholders divided on fairness, practicality of Parisian e-scooter ban
Est. 5minAs the Parisian ban on self-service scooters enters into force on 1 September, the city hall calls the move revolutionary amid an urban jungle, while stakeholders remain divided on the pros and cons.
EU Commission to backtrack on harmful chemicals ban
Est. 5minThe EU executive is about to cut back its plans of banning toxic chemicals as first promised in the chemicals strategy after industry pressure, a leaked document seen by EURACTIV suggests.
WHO: French youth smoke, drink less since pandemic
Est. 4minTobacco, alcohol and cannabis are being consumed much less by French adolescents since the start of the pandemic in March 2020, though lockdowns are not the only reason for this downward trend, according to a recent study.
The importance of healthy animals for the wellbeing of pet owners
Est. 5minThe human-animal bond between pets and their owners is a mutually reinforcing relationship that promotes the health and wellbeing of animals and people.
Complementary therapy stakeholders say their treatments help cancer patients
Est. 4minThe EU's ambitious plans to beat cancer would be complemented by taking greater account of how complementary therapies can improve quality of life alongside medical treatment, panellists argued at a EURACTIV event on ‘Integrative oncology’.
EU’s Kyriakides promises to reinstate grants for health NGOs in EU4Health programme
Est. 3minThe European Commission will reinstate operating grants for health NGOs in the EU4Health programme, the EU's Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides has promised after European health NGOs joined forces in an online campaign this week.
Large glazed surfaces deliver more than we think
By providing access to natural daylight and a visual connection with the external environment, glass ensures health and well-being in all type of buildings.
Kidney health and climate change: Shedding light on a long-neglected relationship
Est. 5minChronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is often described as the invisible killer, mostly because patients have few or no symptoms until it is too late. On the practical level, this means that the disease, although devastating for both the individual and …
MEPs are calling for complete elimination of cancer-causing asbestos
Est. 3minThe European Parliament has called for the creation of a strategy to completely eliminate cancer-causing asbestos in a bid to strengthen workers' protection and reduce exposure to this common chemical.
Good Off-Label Use Practice of Medicines
Before a drug makes it onto the market it is vigorously tested and needs to be authorized, either by a national competent authority or EMA, the European Medicines Agency. All the information on when a medicinal product can and cannot be …
Pandemic could have far reaching effects on bone health, expert warns
Est. 4minThe COVID pandemic may have far-reaching consequences on bone health, due to a combination of lack of physical activity and late diagnosis, according to Jane Barratt, secretary general of the international federation of ageing.
Reducing air pollution could save 50,000 deaths a year, says new Lancet report
Est. 4minReducing air pollution to World Health Organisation recommended levels would prevent more than 50,000 deaths a year across European cities, according to a new study published in The Lancet Planetary Health journal.
Without prioritising walking and cycling, EU mobility strategy is a lost opportunity
Est. 5minAn EU strategy boosting walking and cycling would have been key to clean up the air in our cities, achieve the EU’s climate goals and prevent disease, argues Anne Stauffer.
Scotland first in the world to make sanitary products free
Est. 2minScotland on Tuesday (24 November) made sanitary products free to all women, becoming the first nation in the world to take such a step against "period poverty." The measure makes tampons and sanitary pads available at designated public places such as …