Transcript The European Public Health Alliance at a glance

The European Public Health
Alliance: Health at the heart of
EU policy
Daniela Negri
“European Networking Conference”
Prishtina, 24-25 April 2008
Who we are
The European Public Health Alliance (EPHA)
is the largest European Platform on health,
representing approximately 100 NGOs and
not-for-profit members working in the field of
health.
Our membership is unique in its diversity.
EPHA members
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Health advocates
Disease specific patient groups
Local Councils
Academic researchers
Health professionals
Consumer groups
Environment organisations
Development organisations
Our mission
EPHA aims to promote and protect the health
interests of all people living in Europe and to
strengthen the dialogue between the EU
institutions, citizens and NGOs in support of
healthy public policies.
Why is health important?
The common causes of the ill health that affect
populations are environmental.
“ This explains why some European countries have improved
their health while others have not and why health differences
between social groups have widened or narrowed as social and
economic conditions have changed¹ ”.
¹World Health Organisation
Environmental aspects
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The social ladder
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Social and psychological circumstances
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Early life
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Social exclusion
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Working conditions/Unemployment
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Transport/Urban mobility
How to address environmental factors
Government
Communities
Environmental
aspects
Public and Private
institutions
Workplaces
Policy entry
Environmental aspects
Individual Behaviour
Behaviour is shaped by environment: hence,
environmental changes would lead to healthier
behaviour.
Policies should be addressed to the environmental
factors to enable full participation in society.
Why policies should address
environmental aspects
Reduction of
educational failure
Reduction of
social insecurity
Employment
Removal of barriers
to healthcare
Improving housing and
social services
Better health
Health legislation at EU level
Art 152 of the Amsterdam Treaty (1997)
“a high level of health promotion shall be ensured in the definition and
implementation of all Community policies and activities”.
Reform Treaty: Charter of Fundamental Rights
and amended art.152
It emphasises:
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physical and mental health protection
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monitoring measures to tackle serious cross-border threats to health
cross-border cooperation
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enhancing standards of quality and safety for medicinal products and
devices for medical use
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protection of public health in relation to tobacco and abuse of alcohol.
Why should civil society be
involved at the EU level?
The majority of all new legislation comes
from Brussels
The EU Works on:
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Agriculture, fisheries and food
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Business (internal market and entreprise)
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Culture, education and youth
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Economy, finance and tax
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Employment and social rights
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Energy and natural resources
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Environment, consumers and health
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External relations and foreign affairs
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Justice and citizens' rights
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Regions and local development
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Science and technology
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Transport and travel
Brussels-based actors
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European Commission
European Council
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Court of
Auditors
European Parliament
CoR
Professional
associations
Court of
Justice
EcoSoc
Industry
Platforms
NGOs
Trade
Unions
Public
bodies
EPHA works by:
Information provision
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Tracking policy issues
Information exchange
Representation of public health on EU fora
Facilitating horizontal information (between membership)
Capacity building
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Providing expertise (workshops, conferences, training sessions)
Web-Based tools
Face-to-face membership enabling best-practice exchange
Coordinated actions
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Advocacy
Networking
Awareness raising
Representing members’ interests
EPHA works on:
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Health Determinants
Health systems
EU Affairs
Health determinants
How European policies affect lifestyles:
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CAP: subsidy for the production of raw
tobacco
CAP, labelling and advertising influence eating
and drinking habits
Employment legislation has an impact on
mental health
Health systems
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Healthcare legislation
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Movement of professionals
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Movement of patients
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Pharmaceutical and medical device regulation
EU Affairs
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Reform Treaty
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Parliamentary Elections
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Budget allocation for health
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Open Method of Coordination
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Health in all policies
EPHA’s participation at
European and international level
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Membership at various EU regulatory agencies’
stakeholder boards such as EFSA and EMEA
Secretariat of the EU Parliament’s Health and
Consumer Intergroup
Secretariat of the Health Policy Forum
High level Group participation in ‘Competitiveness
of Agro-Business’
Participation at the Alcohol Policy Forum and EU
Platform on Diet, Physical Activity and Health
Cooperation with WHO
EPHA: the voice of public health in Europe
European Public Health
Alliance
49-51 rue de Trèves
B-1040 Brussels
Belgium
Tel : +32-2 230 30 56
Fax : +32-2 233 38 80
[email protected]
www.epha.org
[email protected]