Brussels, 11/06/2003 (Agence Europe) - Improving the health and therefore the quality of life of European citizens in the context of EU enlargement, and also the work of the European Convention: - these are the aims that the Italian EU Presidency has set itself when it takes up office on 1 July 2003. Presenting the priorities of his Presidency to the press, Italian Health Minister Girolamo Sirchia pointed out that work will focus on the prevention of illness, review of pharmaceutical legislation, quality norms and the safety of human cells and tissue, as well as patient mobility.
I. Prevention: The Presidency will insist on promoting a healthy lifestyle. Mr Sirchia said this "requires each of us to survey ourselves to avoid the risk of illness". To this end, the Presidency will grant priority to combating the abusive use of tobacco and alcohol (which entails an extremely unhealthy lifestyle, the minister noted), and excessive eating. Another priority is screening for cancer for which, Mr Sircia said, a European plan must be launched with the Commission comprising screening and valid preventive measures. As far as SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) is concerned, the minister stressed the need to have a European centre in Europe for the control of transmissible diseases, to ensure better defence and better prevention of infectious diseases.
As far as smoking is concerned, the minister set out three areas for action: (1) protection for non-smokers; (2) protection for minors so that they do not begin to smoke (this involves changing the social model, which today pushes young people to smoke, Mr Sirchia said); and (3) compensation and the payment of damages against those who cause diseases in the workplace or elsewhere in social life.
Regarding overeating, which results in obesity and over-weight, the subject is highly topical as there is a real overeating epidemic in Europe, Mr Sirchia commented, recalling that the subject is a difficult one to tackle as it involves, among other things, revision of the methods for organising society. He went on to cite children as an example. Children will nibble away in front of the television at the end of the day, as they wait for their parents to come home, he said. Children are faced with a problem of loneliness at home and they throw themselves on their favourite food to make up for the lack of affection they receive, the minister explained, stressing the role of industry in the production of such food (foodstuffs with low fat content being less dangerous). The Presidency hopes to define a common line on what should be done in Europe to eliminate obesity. Lifestyle must be changed (lifts, cars, etc.), the minister insisted. The algorithm, which cardiologists use to determine the risks of heart disease, could be shown to individuals to convince them to change their lifestyle, Mr Sirchia suggested.
II. Medicines: It is on medicines that the fate of our citizens depends when faced with the threat of infectious or viral diseases. In Europe, the minister went on with regret, investment in medical research is decreasing and is far below that in the United States. "We need better medicines, and therefore more really innovative molecules. This requires investment in research involving the private and private sectors", Mr Sirchia stressed, recalling that a conference of the G10 Medicines Group would be held in Rome on 10 and 11 July.
Commissioner David Byrne said there must be a very clear commitment to promote public health in Europe. He insisted on the fight against smoking, and that an important stage in this campaign will be the signing, on 16 June, of the WHO Framework Convention on tobacco control (see EUROPE of 7 June, p.17). Welcoming the programme of the Italian Presidency, Mr Byrne called for a new article to be included in the Constitution. The Commissioner said a legal base is needed to be able to adopt measures and counter certain sources of risk for human health. In order to make headway in the fight against obesity, an overall plan is needed. Information on diets and education in eating habits and food (low salt, fats and sugar) are required, the Commissioner said, affirming that information on the label of a product must be relevant and easy to understand by the consumer, and that the current foodstuff labelling system should therefore be improved.