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Critical medicines act
In light of the current geopolitical situation, and in response to the growing issue of medicine shortages in the EU, on 11 March 2025 the European Commission put forward a proposal for a regulation on a critical medicines act. The proposed regulation seeks to strengthen the availability of critical medicines in the EU and the security of supply of these medicines by reducing the dependency on single suppliers and third countries and boosting pharmaceutical manufacturing in the EU. It also aims to ...
Critical Medicines Act: Addressing shortages of medicines and reducing dependencies
During its March plenary session, Ϸվ is due to debate a European Commission statement on the Critical Medicines Act. The Commission is expected to adopt the proposed regulation – which aims to address the severe shortages of medicines, reduce dependencies relating to critical medicines and ingredients, and ensure the supply of affordable medicines – on 11 March 2025.
Gender gap in health and healthcare: Implications for women
Recent findings suggesting that women in the EU outlive men yet often spend more years in poor health point to a significant gender gap in healthcare. Women face multiple challenges that negatively affect their well-being, including delayed diagnoses, pain bias, research disparities and limited access to essential services.
World Rare Diseases Day: Advances in research give patients new hope
Rare diseases, though seldom recognised and frequently misdiagnosed, affect approximately 36 million people in the EU. Despite their significant collective prevalence, patients with rare diseases are often overlooked by healthcare systems, facing challenges in diagnosis, treatment, and access to advances in research. Researchers are increasingly using networks to share their findings and make better progress, giving new hope to patients.
Healthcare in the EU: Addressing urgent labour shortages and ensuring quality jobs
During its February plenary session, Ϸվ is due to debate a Commission statement on the need to address urgent labour shortages and ensure quality jobs in the EU healthcare sector. The EU faces critical shortages in healthcare workers, driven by an ageing population, increasing demand and difficult working conditions.
World Cancer Day 2025 – 4 February: The burden of cancer is increasing
Three years after its launch, Europe's Beating Cancer Plan is positively impacting lives by fostering collaboration and advancing prevention, early detection, treatment and care while enhancing the quality of life for cancer patients. Nevertheless, cancer remains a major public health challenge, with cancer cases continuing to rise, reflecting population ageing as well as changes to people's exposure to risk factors.
World AIDS Day 2024: Still too many HIV infections
World AIDS Day, proclaimed by the United Nations in 1988, is marked every year on 1 December. The aim is to raise awareness, fight prejudice, encourage progress on prevention, and improve treatment around the world. Although infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is preventable, significant HIV transmission remains a challenge to EU Member States' health systems. This year's theme –'Take the rights path: My health, my right!' –underlines the need to ensure that everyone, everywhere ...
Smoke- and aerosol-free environments
In September 2024, the European Commission proposed a Council recommendation aimed at better protecting people, particularly young people, from the effects of second-hand smoke and emerging products such as heated tobacco products and electronic cigarettes. MEPs are due to debate a Commission statement on the draft recommendation on smoke- and aerosol-free environments in plenary in November.
Confirmation hearings of the Commissioners-designate: Olivér Várhelyi – Health and Animal Welfare
Olivér Várhelyi, the Commissioner-designate for Health and Animal Welfare, has worked on EU related issues throughout his professional career. He has been serving as Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement since 2019. From 2015 to 2019 he held the dual roles of Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Hungary to the EU, having served as Deputy Permanent Representative of Hungary from 2011 to 2015. From 2008 to 2011, Várhelyi headed the Commission's Unit for Industrial Property Rights in ...
World Mental Health Day 2024: 10 October
The purpose of World Mental Health Day is to improve knowledge, raise awareness and mobilise efforts in support of mental health around the world. This year's theme – 'Mental health at work' – underlines that supportive work environments foster mental health, providing purpose and stability. On the contrary, poor working environments – including excessive workloads, low job security and discrimination – can undermine mental health and lead to decreased performance and absence from work, and can also ...