Brussels, 31/08/2015 (Agence Europe) - An action plan implemented by a number of associations active in the health sector calls on the institutions of the European Union to promote and encourage sustainable, equitable and participatory European health systems. The so-called Riga Roadmap brings together and sets out the conclusions adopted at the Universal Healthcare Conference, held in Riga on 28-29 June. The signatories of the action plan are the EGA (European Generic and Biosimilar Association), the EFPIA (European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations), the EPF (European Patients' Forum) and the EPHA (European Public Health Alliance).
By providing a guide for action, the Riga Roadmap will support the successful implementation of four principles for European health: prevention, promotion, protection and participation. The action plan sets out a number of objectives:
identify appropriate and smarter ways of preventing ill health by putting in place cost-effective preventative measures, such as policies to tackle antimicrobial resistance, smoke-free policies and vaccination, and introducing fiscal measures to reduce consumption of unhealthy foods, alcohol and tobacco while promoting better eating habits by ensuring that healthier foods are more accessible and affordable;
creating frameworks for meaningful patient involvement across the innovation chain in collaboration with the relevant parts of the European Commission and other stakeholders;
including calls for innovative health systems under future EU programmes so that healthcare better meets patients' needs;
promoting effective, balanced policies which support both innovation and use of generic medicines to ensure access to medicines for all;
collecting comparative data from the member states and investing in health literacy, with the support of various financial instruments. (Isabelle Lamberty)