Brussels, 03/03/2004 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament Committee on Social Affairs adopted, on 17 February, the report by German Social Democrat Karin Jöns on medical care and long-time care of the elderly. The report, which is to be submitted to the Parliament in plenary on 11 March in Strasbourg, welcomes the beginning of cooperation between Member States in the health care sector and confirms its endorsement of the three main principles: access for all regardless of income or wealth, high quality and financial sustainability. It also calls on the European Commission to make concrete proposals regarding patient mobility, especially concerning the crossborder provision of health care.
In her report, Ms Jöns underlines the importance of prevention to reduce the risk of serious illnesses (cancer, cardiovascular diseases) or other problems (allergies, respiratory diseases, arthritis, etc.). Although supporting its rapporteur, the European Parliament is expected to call for application of the open method of coordination to health care and long-term care with the adoption of a detailed timetable at the European Council in June 2004. Member States are above all invited to: (1) ensure provision of home care; (2) guarantee access by the elderly to preventive cures, physiotherapy, rehabilitation and other services to guarantee their independence as long as possible; (3) step up research in the field of gerontology; (4) and promote research in the field of palliative medicine. The report also stresses the need to fight against the inequality of access to care and expresses concern about the decline in the number of qualified doctors and medical staff. The report also stresses the excessively long waiting lists in Member States and considers that, when waiting lists are long, Member States should improve their cooperation to ensure the provision of care without bringing into question the financial balance of social security systems. The report also calls for greater account to be taken of patients' rights and for more active involvement by patient associations in the development of health care policies.