Children and young people shall be protected from alcohol

Day two of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council was primarily dedicated to health and public health issues. The ministers adopted conclusions on antimicrobial resistance, eHealth and alcohol and health. The ministers also had the opportunity to discuss the status of the H1N1 pandemic. However, the ministers were not able to reach a political agreement on the Directive on patients’ rights in cross-border healthcare.

Increase of antimicrobial resistance a rapidly growing problem
The ministers adopted conclusions on antimicrobial resistance. The conclusions include incentives to develop new, effective antibiotics. In the conclusions the Commission is also instructed to return with an action plan for the development of new, effective antibiotics within 24 months. The increase and spread of antimicrobial resistance and the lack of effective antibiotics is a rapidly growing European and global problem. Without effective antibiotics, common infectious diseases risk becoming fatal.

“This is a neglected and urgent area where we must take action together. We find ourselves in a situation with an increasing number of serious infections for which we lack effective antibiotics. By successfully reaching an agreement, we have raised the need for new antibiotics to the highest political level”, says Sweden’s Minister for Health and Social Affairs Göran Hägglund.

eHealth

The Council adopted conclusions on eHealth. eHealth is primarily about how best to introduce and make use of information and communication technology to improve healthcare. For many years, the Member States have cooperated at expert level on the issue. The Council conclusions aim to enable the Member States to go from theoretical experience exchange to concrete cross-border cooperation. The conclusions also indicate practical areas for continued cooperation. In addition, the conclusions enable the creation of a structure for cooperation that can gather and pass on the outcomes of all ongoing initiatives and projects in the area of eHealth.

“We have reached agreement on the need for a change of perspective, with a shift of focus from the technology to the benefits for the patient, health care professionals and the healthcare system as a whole”, says Minister for Health and Social Affairs Göran Hägglund.

Alcohol and health

The ministers adopted conclusions on alcohol and health. The reason for highlighting the issue of alcohol is to support the Commission’s and the Member States’ work to implement the alcohol strategy adopted by the Commission in 2006. In the conclusions, the Commission is urged to support the work of the EU Member States to reduce alcohol-related harm. Part of the focus is on protecting young people, children and unborn children. The Commission is also urged to deliver a final report in 2012 on the implementation of the strategy. It is also an appeal to the Commission to begin analysing an alcohol strategy that should take over after 2012.

“We are very pleased with the conclusions on alcohol and health that have been adopted today by the Council. The Swedish Presidency has received very strong support both for the conclusions and for our persistent efforts, for example with the expert conference held in Stockholm in September, where a number of important studies were presented and scope was provided for dialogue between all parties involved”, says Sweden’s Minister for Elderly Care and Public Health Maria Larsson.

Pharmaceuticals package

The Presidency informed the Council of the situation in the negotiations on the ‘pharmaceuticals package’. The proposals in the pharmaceuticals package have two main aims; firstly, to prevent counterfeit pharmaceuticals entering the legal market and, secondly, to strengthen the system for pharmacovigilance, which regulates pharmaceuticals after they have been released onto the market. Discussions on this issue will continue during the Spanish Presidency.

H1N1 pandemic: update on the situation
The ministers received a status report from the Presidency and the European Commission on the development of the new influenza in the EU and its neighbouring countries. They had an opportunity to discuss lessons learnt so far and future challenges and cooperation.

Tobacco

The Council adopted a recommendation that calls on the Member States to use legislation to protect their citizens from tobacco smoke in the workplace, indoor public places and on public transport.

Patients’ rights when seeking healthcare in other EU countries
The ministers were not able to reach a political agreement on the Directive on patients’ rights in cross-border healthcare. The issue will be discussed further during the Spanish Presidency.