Brussels, 08/07/2014 (Agence Europe) - In the area of health, the Italian Presidency will seek to promote healthy lifestyles and prevention campaigns, under the third framework programme on health. It will also look at gender disparities and focus on prevention of respiratory diseases and cancer. It will call on its European partners to look at the results and prospects in tackling AIDS, ten years after the adoption of the Dublin Declaration on partnership to fight HIV/AIDS. There will also be a priority on vaccines as an effective public health tool, while the Presidency prepares conclusions on this subject, and on antimicrobial resistance.
The quality of healthcare services will also be the centre of the Italian Presidency's attention as part of the targets set out on patient safety. Given budgetary restrictions resulting from the difficult economic conditions in Europe, Italy will also pay particular attention to innovative methods for reducing health care costs whilst increasing their efficiency. The Presidency also intends to begin a debate on hospital-acquired infections, as well as age-related degenerative issues, such as dementia, treating pain and palliative therapies.
Health research will also be at the centre of the discussions at the informal health ministers' meeting in Milan on 22-23 September next. The delegations will discuss the benefits for patients from research and innovation in medicines and medical devices. In this connection, the Presidency will also seek to make progress on draft regulations (on medical devices and in vitro diagnostic medical device) during a policy debate planned for the Health Council on 1 December 2014. It will also assess whether there is a need to speed up revision of the directive on transparency (transparency of the measures governing the pricing of medicines for human use and their inclusion in the scope of national health insurance systems). Finally, the Italian Presidency will also more generally address health issues in the Mediterranean regions, to promote an exchange of experiences between healthcare experts in southern countries and define strategies and common goals. (IL)