03/12/2010 (Agence Europe) - At the EPSCO Council, EU health ministers will exchange views on Tuesday 7 December on progress towards putting in place a mechanism for the joint procurement of vaccines and anti-viral products. This mechanism results from the lessons learnt from how the A/H1N1 flu pandemic was handled, which revealed the difficulties encountered by a number of countries in acquiring the said products. The Council is also expected to adopt conclusions on: - chronic diseases (it will probably ask member states and the commission to begin the discussion on measures to improve the response to chronic disease before publication of a document in 2012); - healthcare staff (member states and the Commission will be asked to prepare an action plan by 2012 to improve the skills and recruitment of healthcare professionals); - innovation and solidarity in medicines. (O.J./transl.rt)