Brussels, 01/12/2014 (Agence Europe) - In common with all the other formations of the Council of Ministers, the Health Council opened a debate at its working session on Monday 1 December on what the health sector has brought to the EUROPE 2020 strategy.
The ministers and Health Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis stressed the importance of having viable and effective health systems for a sustainable and inclusive society. Spending in the health sector must not be seen as a burden, a drain on public resources, but as investment in growth and employment. Several member states are of the view, however, that health should not form part of the European semester as it is not an appropriate criterion for judgment of a country's financial stability. The conclusions will be included in a synthesis report that will be submitted to the European Council of 18-19 December. (IL)