The joint action taken to tackle chronic diseases and promote healthy ageing throughout life, known as Chrodis (2013-2016), has been replaced. On 18 September, the European Commission effectively inaugurated its successor, Chrodis Plus, during a launch conference organised in Vilnius.
Chronic diseases are long-term afflictions that in general evolve at a slow pace. Some of them, similarly to cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory diseases and mental health problems, constitute a major cause of mortality (almost half a million adults die from them every year in the EU). The World Health Organisation has set itself the target of reducing the risk of premature death from these kinds of disease by 25% by 2025.
The joint Chrodis Plus builds on the action of its predecessor. Its aim is to promote the implementation of policies and practices that have proved effective in the fight against chronic disease. It will focus on the 2017-20 period and will be coordinated by the Charles III Spanish Health Institute. There is one slight difference with its predecessor. The new joint action will go beyond the health sector and into the workplace in an attempt to help people suffering from chronic diseases.
Speaking in Vilnius, Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis welcomed the launch of Chrodis plus and highlighted the added value of cooperation between member states. He also used this occasion to draw up a balance sheet in the fight against chronic diseases in Europe. He explained that, “On the positive side, I am pleased that, overall, mortality from cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory disease is going down. At the same time, I am deeply concerned that health inequalities are widening. In this context, it is unlikely that Europe will meet the targets of halting the rise of the diabetes and obesity and achieving a 30% relative reduction in tobacco use”.
In total, 42 beneficiaries representing 20 European countries will be collaborating in the implementation of pilot projects and learning the concrete lessons obtained from the Chrodis Plus joint action. (Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean)