Social Issues

How to reinforce the social dimension of the EU under the Lithuanian Presidency?

Lithuania will hold the rotating EU presidency of the Council in the second half of 2013 (July-December 2013). The Social Platform, (an alliance of representative European federations and networks of non-governmental organisations active in the social sector) organised a conference focusing on the social dimension of the EU. EPHA – as member of the Social Platform – transferred important messages (the possibilities of civil society, the relevance of poverty for public health, (...)

[EPT] Roma NRIS – Policy Framework – National Roma Integration Strategies (16 May 2013)

National Roma Integration Strategies (NRIS) Many of the estimated 10-12 million Roma in Europe face prejudice, intolerance, discrimination and social exclusion in their daily lives. They are marginalised and live in very poor socio-economic conditions. This EU Framework seeks to make a tangible difference to Roma people’s lives. It is the EU’s response to the current situation and does not replace Member States’ primary responsibility in this regard. With this EU (...)

[eHealth week] eHealth innovation must be driven by full inclusion

13 May, Brussels -The motto of the 2013 eHealth week (13-15 May), which kicks off today, is ‘Delivering Innovative Healthcare and Well-being’. According to the European Commission, eHealth Week aims to encourage continuous investment in health IT in an effort to improve patient care and get a handle on rising medical costs. An integral part of this year’s eHealth Week is the High Level eHealth Conference, organised by the Irish Presidency and the European Commission. (...)

EP resolution underlines the need for action on medicines access problem

On 18 April, the European Parliament (EP) voted on a Resolution on the impact of the financial and economic crisis on human rights. The resolution highlighted some of the global impacts of the crisis on the right to health. EPHA applauds the EP’s recognition of the multiple impacts of the crisis on ordinary people and the need to further champion public health across Europe. The Resolution states that "the rising price of medicines (by up to 30%) is having a negative impact on the (...)

[EPHA Call to Action] Health in the reform of economic governance

EPHA has launched a call for action for health, civil society and the reform of EU economic governance. Since the financial crisis began in 2007, the EU has introduced numerous new mechanisms, such as tighter coordination of economic and fiscal policies, to alleviate the current symptoms and prevent their recurrence. Several of those measures have impacts on health systems and consequently on health. The EU nowadays has stronger influence and control over national health systems than it (...)

Addressing fuel poverty in deprived urban areas

A practical example from the United Kingdom on how to tackle several social determinants of health (e.g. housing and energy) and have climate change benefits: In the last 18 months, more than 1,600 houses in the poorest parts of Stockton-on-Tees (United Kingdom) have benefited from free energy efficiency measures to cut local carbon emissions and reduce fuel bills. As well as external cladding, many homes have also received new boilers, central heating systems and internal insulation (...)

European Commission proposes €3.9 million to help former tobacco workers in Austria

Tobacco is the single largest avoidable health risk in the EU, accounting for nearly 700 000 premature deaths each year. Around 50% of smokers die prematurely (on average 14 years earlier). This initiative is an example of how EU funds can be used to help former tobacco farmers and workers to find a new job and mitigate the social impacts of career change. The European Commission has proposed providing Austria with €3.9 million from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) to (...)

[e-petition - UK] Minimum unit price for alcohol will save lives

The British Medical Association has launched an e-petition to call on the UK government not to backtrack on its plans to introduce minimum unit pricing (MUP). MUP is shown in models and in practice in Canada to help reduce the harm associated with the heaviest forms of drinking - and in effect will eliminate the bottom end supermarket and low brand lagers and ciders that are bought in high volume and consumed by the most vulnerable parts of our populations. With this e-petition, the (...)

Amnesty International urges EU Institutions to end Female Genital Mutilation

Amnesty International Ireland, together with 15 other organisations from across Europe, has been running the END Female Genital mutilation (FGM) European Campaign since 2009 to promote awareness and challenge the EU to end FGM and other forms of violence against women. On 27 February 2013 the Seminar "Towards European Action to end Female Genital Mutilation" took place in the European Parliament, as part of the END FGM-European Campaign aiming "to put female genital mutilation high on the (...)

Breaking barriers - Roma students can become doctors!

Since 2010, the Roma Center for Health Policies – SASTIPEN has been implementing a Tutorship Programme to help Roma students in several European countries (like Romania, Macedonia, Serbia, and Bulgaria) who want to become doctors and whose social and financial support is limited. This Tutorship Programme offers preparatory courses for Roma students in biology, chemistry and/or physics. Roma students also receive mentoring and technical assistance to help them pass admission exams (...)