Brussels, 16/12/2002 (Agence Europe) - The members of the EU Forum on Health Policy express concern about the lack of interest shown by the European Convention concerning public health, while the citizens of the European Union consider health should be a field of priority EU action. They state in a press release that clearly defined powers are needed at the European and national levels in order to identify adequate mechanisms for finding transnational and legislative solutions to global health problems. They call on the working group on social Europe, chaired by Georgios Katiforis, to ensure that - the right to health is mentioned in Article 2 of the future constitutional treaty; - Article 3 (Union objectives) clearly stipulates a "high level of human health protection" as already set out in Article 152 of the Amsterdam Treaty; - solidarity, equity in the health field and universality of access to healthcare in Europe should be the cornerstones of the social Europe, while honouring the sovereignty of Member States in the organisation of their healthcare systems. The Forum groups patients' associations, consumer bodies - mainly through BEUC, organisations representing the pharmaceutical industry and the medical professions.