COVID-19, action on EU health is urgently needed

COVID-19 has changed societies and influenced health care systems around the world, it has impacted almost every aspect of our lives, and the delivering of necessary medical care to all patients became a real challenge. Today, Europe is still too weak on health policy and 70% of Europeans want the EU to do more for health, according to a recent Eurobarometer survey. The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the vulnerability of our healthcare systems. It is high time to permanently entrust the European Union with more resources and stronger competences in the field of public health, especially in emergency situations.

Campaign for a stronger European health policy

Therefore, 17 European NGOs including EUROCAM are uniting their voices in a joint EU4Health campaign and calling to act now for a stronger and more ambitious European health policy. To this end, the European Commission, Parliament and National Governments are called upon to:

- Boost funds and resources for health in the EU.

- Strengthen EU health action under the current mandate.

- Re-think EU healthcare competencies and vision for the future.

Shaping the future of health in the EU together has never been more urgent. To this end, members of the EU4Health coalition have issued a joint statement.

EU4Health statement

The global new Coronavirus disease pandemic is putting European solidarity and health systems’ capacity to the test, exposing one of the main weaknesses of the European project. More specifically, there is a long-lasting lack of significant tools and resources to develop a common policy addressing health and care, which would place shared interest above national demands. A single united European response requires robust coordination, sufficient resources and a strong mandate for action..... Read the full statement here

If you wish to endorse the statement please sign the petition here or get in touch with EU4Health.