#EuropaColon: Ce urmează pentru #health?

Is DG SANTE pulling the short straw over changing EU budget discussions, as Brexit becomes a reality?  There are rumours circulating and recently reported by politico, that health at EU level will be relegated to the second division and a ‘health in all policies’ approach will come to replace the Directorate in the Commission.  

These rumours were exacerbated by the recent publication of the Future of Europe report where health was mentioned only in passing. No acknowledgement was given to the fact that the recommendations of the report could not be delivered unless there was a healthy working population to back up the ideas and innovation. It seems to be taken for granted that health is something that just happens.

Further more, member states need to be held accountable for their health policies or access variations. Without DG SANTE or patient organizations to monitor activity, Departments of Health could do as little as they wanted. While many NGO’s financially benefit from DG SANTE which importantly ensures their independence from Industry, they also provide a valuable and supportive eyes and ears role to DG SANTE. In addition, NGO’s provide both independent and specialist advice on many different aspects of health within the Directorate.  The patient voice and contribution has taken many years to build up and be heard. It will be a sorry situation if it was to be cast aside so easily.   Those in the field fully appreciate the considerable contribution DG SANTE has made over the years to many aspects of the health debate. EuropaColon fully supports efforts to stabilise the existence of DG SANTE and its on going presence in EU affairs in the years ahead.    

EuropaColon is a European-wide platform for colorectal cancer (CRC) aiming to raise awareness, support patients, and campaign for equity of access to best treatment and care. 2017 plans include working with the EU Commission on standards of care for CRC patient pathways; re-energizing screening efforts with a dedicated Task Force, composed of countries with excellent screening rates; undertaking a Europe-wide survey of the Unmet Needs of Patients with mCRC. Work will also continue with our member groups to support their local policy and national initiatives. Currently, with 43 member groups in 32 countries, only a few remain outside the fold. In the future, EuropaColon will expand its remit to other digestive cancers.

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