Brussels, 01/06/2011 (Agence Europe) - The Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumers Council will hold its next meeting on 6 June in Luxembourg during a session exclusively focusing on health issues. This will be presided over by Miklós Réthelyi, the Hungarian minister for national resources, and Miklós Szócska, the minister of state for health. Ministers will exchange their views on childhood immunisation and modern health systems, mental health and innovation in the medical devices sector. “Other business” will include a discussion on the situation involving the E. coli bacteria and epidemic but no decision will at this stage be adopted on this matter. It should be noted that a Special Council is planned on the subject for 17 June, according to an announcement by agriculture ministers who met for an informal session on 31 May. During lunch, ministers will discuss the public health dimension of migration from southern neighbourhood countries.
Child immunisation. Ministers will adopt conclusions on this subject and will also proceed to an exchange of views on the re-emergence of measles in Europe. A workgroup in charge of examining the European vaccination card has been unable to develop sufficient consensus between member states on how to strengthen the arsenal of documents for improved child immunisation, particularly in migrant families, underlined one source close to the Council.
Modernisation of the health systems. Following an exchange of views on the viability of health systems, the Council will adopt conclusions for “modern, responsive and sustainable health systems”. Conclusions will highlight the need for European level co-operation in order to tackle the common challenges impacting on member states' healthcare systems and help explore the crucial economic role played by health so that health is not simply perceived as a spending issue but as an acknowledged factor of economic growth. The Hungarian Presidency aims to launch a reflection exercise on this question. This process will last more than a year.
Mental health. The Council will adopt conclusions for assessing the work carried out as part of the European Mental Health Pact since its adoption in June 2008. The Commission and member states are called on to carry out joint action, particularly with regard to the issue of depression, in an effort to develop a platform that will help member states cooperate and exchange their respective points of view.
Innovation in medical device sector. Conclusions will also be adopted in this connection, on the basis of the conference organised by the Hungarian Presidency on 22 March. Member states and the Commission are called on to organise initiatives for promoting innovation in the medical device sector. Many small and medium-sized enterprises work in this sector. (I.L./transl.fl)