Brussels, 26/02/2014 (Agence Europe) - On 26 February, the European Parliament adopted the 3rd EU multiannual health programme, by 576 votes to 33, with 39 abstentions. The European Commission brought forward its proposal in November 2011. While the member states are working hard to design health systems that are sustainable and less costly in a context of austerity and an ageing population, the 3rd programme should mean that available resources are used to best effect, as the Parliament was determined to ensure, underlined rapporteur Françoise Grossetete (EPP, France). “The reforms in our health systems are needed to address the growing demand for care that comes with the ageing population, and to continue to provide high-quality care for future generations. (…) We undertook, therefore, to ensure the new programme would pursue more precise objectives in priority health areas. The goal is clear: increase efficiency savings and maximise the effect of the programme”, she said.
The new programme pursues four priority goals: (1) preventing illness by addressing the main risk factors (tobacco, alcohol abuse, lack of exercise, poor eating habits); (2) protecting citizens from serious cross-border threats to health; (3) helping create innovative and viable health systems; (4) improving access to better and safer quality healthcare for all citizens. Parliament succeeded in having the Commission present a mid-term report (by 30 June 2017 at the latest) on progress on these objectives. It also wanted the programme to lay greater stress on age-related illnesses, which are affecting increasing numbers of people and which bring severe health, economic and social consequences. Grossetete highlighted the importance of consideration being given to drug-resistant bacteria. The Greens, meanwhile, stressed, in discussions, the definition of prevention with the introduction of environmental criteria. The planned budget for the 3rd framework programme was set at €449.394 million over seven years. This is a significant increase (5.7%) on the 2nd programme but is still not huge in view of the health threats and challenges that member states will face in the future. “It's all about getting the most from the funding and encouraging innovation in health and improving the viability of our health systems for our citizens”, stated Grossetete. (IL)