Public consultation on the EU strategic plan for global public health

Architectural barriers in Rome, the first videos of Égalité

2 July 2022

Stop telemarketing on mobile phones, registrations from 27 July

22 July 2022

Published by Dario Dongo and Elena Bosani on 16 July 2022

Global public health, the role of the EU

The pandemic from Covid-19 has highlighted the need to effectively address health threats and health inequalities, also at the European Union (EU) level. (2)

General objective of the Commission's strategic plan is to renew the EU's external (and internal) action in the health field, giving it a clearer and more efficient role.

EU strategic plan, the 5 key points

The new plan EU strategy is based on five key points:

1) the Sustainable Development Goals (Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs) in the UN Agenda 2030),

2) the EU strategy 'global gateway', which aspires to promote digital connections in health, education and research systems (as well as in the energy and transport sectors) globally, with an EU investment of approximately € 300 billion, (3)

3) the growing impact of climate change and biodiversity loss on public health, (4)

4) the evolution of infectious diseases, including zoonoses (from animals to humans), and non-communicable diseases (Non-Communicable Diseases, NCDs), (5)

5) recent changes in the 'global healthcare architecture'. Having regard to both the human right to universal health coverage, (6) and the interconnection between people, animals, plants and the environment, according to the One Health. (7)

EU objectives

The initiative aims to define a strategy for:

1) strengthen global health systems to address health inequalities, advance towards universal health coverage and provide social protection in health care,

2) stimulate a 'world leadership'of the EU, with an approach TeamEurope contributing to making multilateral institutions more effective and developing strategic partnerships with other regions of the planet,

3) ensure effective funding through an approach TeamEurope, which corresponds to the needs and ambitions of this initiative.

Instruments

The EU strategy should identify thematic and cross-cutting measures to achieve these objectives, which may include:

a) improved coordination, to speak with one voice (together with EU countries and stakeholders) at global, regional and national levels, (8)

b) promoting more effective coordination among other global actors and initiatives in the health field, for example through the implementation of the global action plan for a healthy life and well-being for all (Global Action Plan for Healthy Lives and Well-being for All), (one)

c) a leadership that shows the example to follow, with an increase in credibility. The strategy will outline the necessary measures that the Commission, EU countries, Parliament and stakeholders (stakeholders) will have to adopt.

Multilateralism, WHO, focus on health

The above-mentioned measures identified in the draft EU strategy under review also include:

d) improving the global health architecture to address health challenges fairly and more effectively.
The strategy should reflect multilateralism - eg. G7, G20, OECD (9) - and participation in WHO (World Health Organization). (10) Promoting the strengthening of the health system with specific funding flows. Pandemics should be tackled with one 'specific binding instrument'and the strengthening of the international health regulation,

e) the effective inclusion of health in all policies (trade, resilience of global supply chains, etc.) which are essential to contribute to the achievement of health policy objectives.

#it will all be fine?

Dario Dongo and Elena Bosani

Cover image from Health Consumer Powerhouse (non-profit organization). Latest data on https://healthpowerhouse.com/en/category/euro-health-consumer-index/?post_type=publications

Note

(1) World health - new EU strategy (europa.eu)

(2) The declared leadership unfortunately did not emerge in the management of the recent pandemic. More can be done, as noted in our trilogy Covid-19, ABC. Our ebook on the new coronavirus

(3) EU Global Gateway Strategy. V. https://bit.ly/3IHjBjB

(4) Dario Dongo. Special - EU 2030 Biodiversity Strategy, the plan announced in Brussels. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 31.5.20/XNUMX/XNUMX,

(5) Sabrina Bergamini, Dario Dongo. Obesity, childhood obesity and marketing. WHO Europe 2022 report. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 16.6.22/XNUMX/XNUMX,

(6) Universal health coverage, UN declaration

(7) Dario Dongo. One Health. Animal, human and planetary health and wellbeing. What can we do? GIFTS (Great Italian Food Trade). 2.6.21/XNUMX/XNUMX,

(8) Objective that the European Commission unfortunately today is struggling to achieve, in terms of public health associated with food safety, due to the dysfunctions of its DG Sante. As we have seen in the recent case of the analysis and management of risks related to food allergies. V. Dario Dongo. Allergens and RASFF, European blackout. 13.7.22,

(9) The concepts of public health and multilateralism obviously postulate the achievement of peace in the European macro-region. Peace in Europe, appeal to Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Petition

(10) Frequently asked questions of SDG3 Global Action Plan (who.int)

readings: 908