Coalition questions rewriting of Health Action Plan
A coalition of major health action groups has called on MEPs to reject amendments made to the Commission's Programme of Community action in the field of health and consumer protection (2007-2013). The programme places a focus on healthy lifestyles and healthy general behaviour to minimise the risk of contracting or developing diseases, and is closely associated with the EU's framework programmes for research. The original document addressed specific diseases, but this has been dropped due to budgetary constraints. The coalition, which comprises the European Heart Network, the Association of European Cancer leagues, the European Cancer Patient Coalition, the International Diabetes Federation - Europe and the European Society of Cardiology, believes that sidelining specific diseases in favour of a general programme will sideline these diseases and potentially place the public at risk. The new action plan was drafted in May 2006 as a response to the budget cut, which reduced investment in public health by two-thirds. '[I]n the light of the budgetary constraints, this modified proposal does not include a specific action strand to tackle individual diseases (as in the Commission's original proposal which was further strengthened by the European Parliament). Instead, in view of the limited resources, the Commission aims to help reduce the burden of diseases by tackling the most important health determinants.' The coalition of health groups believes that this move sends the wrong message to EU citizens, and also fails to address those people suffering from specific diseases. Wim Wientjens, President of the International Diabetes Federation, European Region, said: 'Of course the real actions must be done by the Member States themselves, but the EU is missing now an opportunity to show to European citizens that the EU can make a difference in individuals' lives, by using its competences in a tangible way.' Hildrun Sundseth, head of EU policy at the European Cancer Patient Coalition, agrees. 'While patient groups recognise the budgetary constraints facing the Commission, we question the wisdom of the policy choice that it has opted for. One of the aims of the Action Programme is to create a strategic framework, and enable Member States to share best practices on the prevention, identification, control and management of major diseases. It is only through coordination that Member States can learn from each other - and save lives.' In the proposal, best practice proposals are generalised. '[E]xchange of best practice will target issues where the Community can provide genuine added-value in bringing together expertise from different countries, as is the case with rare diseases, or cross-border issues related with co-operation between health systems.' Other members of the coalition make the same point - that in order to reduce specific diseases, specific measures should be tailor-made to those diseases, especially with such high profile diseases as heart disease, cancer and diabetes. 'People understand what a heart attack is. When Europe takes action to prevent a heart attack, they understand what is being done and this is important,' said John Martin, chair of the European Society of Cardiology's Committee for EU relations.