Organ donation and long-term health care will be priorities for Croatia – which will hold the Presidency of the EU Council for the next 6 months – in the field of health policy. This is what has emerged from the work schedule published by this Member State at the end of December, confirming the announcements made by the Croatian Minister of Health, Tomislav Dulibić, on 9 December (see EUROPE 12387/14).
In this document, Zagreb states that it will promote the more effective use of long-term health care during its term of office. “Given the ageing population and the increased prevalence of chronic non-communicable diseases, the Presidency hopes to encourage more effective use of accessible health care solutions”, it says. Similarly, “on the basis of Croatia’s positive experiences in the field of organ donation and transplantation, the Presidency will make special efforts to explore the possibilities for closer and improved cooperation between Member States”.
As far as the timetable is concerned, Croatia will hold an informal ministerial meeting on 29 and 30 April and a formal meeting on 12 June in Luxembourg. According to a provisional agenda for the latter meeting, the Twenty-Seven are expected to adopt conclusions on organ donation and to hold a policy discussion on long-term care. As regards the only legislative dossier on the table of Health Ministers, Zagreb announces a political debate or a progress report on health technology assessment (see EUROPE 12376/14, 12379/8). (Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean)