European Health Union: better disease prevention and cross-border cooperation | Noticias

The proposal to extend the mandate of the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) was adopted by 598 votes to 84 against, with 13 abstentions. EU member states must develop national preparedness and response plans, providing timely, comparable and high-quality data, say MEPs. They also want to make sure that the center’s mandate extends beyond infectious diseases to also include major non-communicable diseases, such as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, cancer, diabetes and mental illness.

The legislative proposal to strengthen the EU’s crisis prevention, preparedness and response when addressing serious cross-border health threats in the future was adopted by 594 votes to 85 against, with 16 abstentions. The COVID-19 crisis has revealed the need for more action at the EU level to support cooperation between member states, particularly border regions, as MEPs stress. The text also calls for clear procedures and more transparency for the EU’s common procurement activities and related procurement agreements.

Watch a recording of the general discussion (parts one and two).

quotes

Rapporteur Joanna Kupchinska (ECR, PL) said: “Our proposals will improve cooperation and exchange of information, experiences and best practices between Member States, the Commission, the Health Security Committee and ECDC itself. This will improve preparedness and response coordination when dealing with health challenges. We also agreed to intensify analysis. and modeling to support Member States in controlling the outbreak by collecting and processing more epidemiological data, while maintaining key national competence to protect health.”

“One Health’s vision in all European policies should guide the entire system of crisis anticipation and management. The COVID-19 crisis shows how a public health issue can affect the proper functioning of every part of European society,” said rapporteur Véronique Trillet-Lenoir (Reignau, France). ). “I fully support making joint procurement of medical products the norm. In terms of negotiating with industry, the EU is stronger when it speaks with one voice on behalf of all member states,” she added.

background

as part of Building a European Health UnionOn 11 November 2020, the Commission proposed a new framework for health security, based on The experience of dealing with the Corona virus. Package includes A Regulation Proposal on Serious Cross-Border Threats to Health and He suggested to strengthen the mandate of European Center for Disease Prevention and Control.