Healthcare services

[2013 Patients’ Rights Day] Putting patients in the driver’s seat

On the occasion of 2013 Patients’ Rights Day (May 15) EPHA would like to stress that, although much progress has been made, there is still a lot of scope for health systems to benefit from an obvious, yet commonly underutilized and underestimated resource: patients themselves. As patients and consumers of health services - and we all fall into this category throughout our lives - we build up an enormous amount of knowledge over the years that takes various forms. Some individuals, (...)

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Also about: Health Rights and Patients , Health Inequalities , public health , patient rights , Innovation , health system , Health-promoting environment , health economics

[EPHA position paper] Reforming Health Sy­stems in Times of Austerity

Amidst the backdrop of the economic crisis and countries being recommended to reform health systems to achieve better public administrations and fiscal consolidation, EPHA launches its position on health system reforms. This position includes lessons learned and recommendations for equality.

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Also about: Services General Interest (SGI) , Economic crisis , workforce , professional mobility , health system , Health-promoting environment , equality

Clinical trials: Exploring the limits of transparency

Glenis Willmott MEP (S&D, UK) took the initiative to bring together experts to discuss the extent to which more transparency could be workable in non-commercial clinical trials. The debate, which took place in the European Parliament on 10 April, served to present the key arguments for and against increased transparency in the context of administrative and data reporting requirements for academic researchers and patient safety. EPHA’s Position on Clinical Trials urges political (...)

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Also about: Pharmaceuticals and Medicines , Health Rights and Patients , Health professionals , Research , Transparency , Health Inequalities , public health , patient rights , pharmacovigilance , health system , clinical trials

New evidence on access to healthcare: austerity marginalises Europe’s weakest

On 9 April 2013, EPHA member Medecins du Monde European office (MdM) launched a new report that documents the effects of the economic crisis and rising xenophobia on undocumented migrants and other vulnerable groups at risk of exclusion from healthcare systems. Results show that the consequences of austerity measures are particularly strong in Southern Europe where many undocumented migrants are living in an administrative limbo. They are being joined by increasing numbers of European (...)

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Also about: Access to Medicines , Health Rights and Patients , Health Inequalities , patient rights , health threats , health system , migration , health economics , Austerity

European Medicines Agency Workshop on Medication Errors

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) organised a workshop on Medication Errors on 28 February – 1 March, a timely event given that such incidents are much more frequent across Europe than is commonly known. They are the most common preventable cause of adverse events in medication practice. The workshop was opened by EMA Director Guido Rasi who stated that, although the reporting of suspected adverse drug reactions to the EMA-administered EudraVigilance database forms an integral part (...)

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Also about: Access to Medicines , Pharmaceuticals and Medicines , Health Rights and Patients , Health professionals , public health , patient rights , pharmacovigilance , health system

[EPHA Open Letter] to EPSCO Council - Boosting investment in health and sustainable development

EPHA has published an open letter to the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO). Based on the recently released Annual Growth Survey (AGS) for 2013, the letter makes recommendations aimed at boosting investment in health and sustainable development. On February 28, EPSCO Council met to discuss the AGS and formulate recommendations towards the EU Spring Council of March. The meeting outcome has great impact, not only on EU guidance, but also on national (...)

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Also about: alcohol , tobacco and smoking , better regulation , health promotion , Europe 2020 , education

Fact or fiction? The Co-production of health and the digital user

In December, the 2012 EHTEL symposium explored, amongst other things, user perspectives in the domain of digital health. It was an opportunity to learn about new developments in eHealth and how they can help address health inequalities and improve access, particularly regarding less literate and disadvantaged population groups for whom the digital divide is still a reality. Following an introduction of the conference theme - ’’The Future of eHealth is already here’’ (...)

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Also about: Health professionals , eHealth , health literacy , technology , patient rights , vulnerable groups , Innovation , cross-border , health system , health economics

Health Mediation Programme in Romania

This article provides information about a vital programme implemented by EPHA partner organisation SASTIPEN Roma Center for Health Policies, based in Romania. Their ’’Health Mediation Programme: Opportunity for increasing the employment rate amongst roman women” is an example of how economic and health objectives can be tackled simultaneously. Health Mediation Programme The health mediation programme represents the “business card” for Romania when discussing (...)

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Also about: Gender Issues , Health Rights and Patients , Health professionals , health literacy , Health Inequalities , public health , health promotion , health system , Health-promoting environment , Roma , employment , health economics

Improving access to life-saving therapy for acute heart attack patients

On 23 January 2013, EPHA attended the Parliament Breakfast Briefing on inequalities in access to best therapies for acute heart attack patients. The event organised by the European Critical Care Foundation (ECCF) in collaboration with "Stent for Life" and hosted by MEP Antigoni Papadopoulou (Cyprus, S&D) discussed access to life-saving therapy. “Chronic diseases constitute the largest health threat to the EU population, with cardiovascular disease (CVD) identified as the leading (...)

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Also about: Chronic Diseases , Health Rights and Patients , Patient safety , Health Inequalities , health promotion , prevention , health economics

European Federation of Nurses Associations issues letter to Irish government on reduction of salaries for new graduate nurses

Following the Irish Government decision to cut the pay of new graduate nurses, the European Federation of Nurses Associations (EFN) (EFN) has issued a letter supporting the Irish Nurses & Midwives Organisation (INMO) campaign on equal pay for the new graduate nurses. The EFN letter reads as follow: "Brussels, 25 January - The Irish government currently holds the EU Presidency and EFN counts on the Irish politicians to strengthen European citizens’ belief in a prosperous future, (...)

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Also about: Health professionals , Patient safety , Economic crisis , public health , economic policies , recruitment , employment , health economics , EFN