equality

[EPHA Briefing] Access to Medicines in Europe in Times of Austerity

When discussing the topic of access to medicines in the context of the economic crisis we have to consider three determinants: affordability and availability, in terms of access to medicines, and innovation in terms of developing new methods of assuring best possible health outcomes. AFFORDABILILTY Usually, health expenditures are mostly covered by public funding and supplemented by private spending. The economic crisis has forced public expending to be cut making patient co-payment (...)

[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.

[Save the date] EPHA 4th Annual Conference 4-5 September 2013, Brussels

On 4 and 5 September 2013 the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) will celebrate 20 years of helping shape Europe’s public health. EPHA is using this milestone as an opportunity to look at how we can foster an EU that is coherent in its decisions, in terms of fostering the health and well-being of people living in Europe. Brave New World: Inclusive Growth and Well-Being or Vested Interests and Lost Generations? SPEAKERS INCLUDE: Vytenis Povilas Andriukaitis, Lithuanian (...)

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 (...)

[Seminar invitation] Health in times of transition in nine former Soviet countries (12 March, Brussels)

The collapse of the USSR has had profound consequences for the lives of those living in the newly independent countries that emerged in 1991. These consequences are still being felt, over two decades later. In 2011 a European Union funded project, Health in Times of Transition (HITT-CIS),** looked in detail at the health and living conditions of people living in nine former Soviet countries - Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, and Ukraine. The (...)

[Event] Child Health Research - the Key to a Healthier European Society Date

The RICHE and CHICOS projects, together with TACTICS and EURO-PERISTAT are hosting a joint meeting to celebrate European child health research, and launch their reports in Dublin this May. Needless to say, you all are invited! Join leading researchers and practitioners in child health, policy makers, advocates, and children, to help shape the future of child health research in Europe. Event’s flyer - pass it on to your colleagues! The Meeeting This international conference is (...)

[Report] Superfood for Babies - Save the Children’s latest report on breastfeeding in developing countries

On February 19, Save the Children launched a milestone report with the title "Superfood for Babies: How overcoming barriers to breastfeeding will save children’s lives" Breastfeeding is one of the best ways to tackle malnutrition; a simple, natural way to boost a baby’s immune system. If all babies were breastfed in the first hour after birth, the lives of 95 babies would be saved every single hour - 830,000 a year. The report, Superfood for Babies, says that if babies receive (...)

[Joint Press Release] Tackling poor housing is the first step towards reducing health inequalities

Brussels, January 25 – On January 22, the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) and the European Federation of Public, Cooperative and Social Housing (CECODHAS Housing Europe) held a joint conference with the European Parliament’s Urban Intergroup. The event focused on the connection between health inequalities and affordable housing and emphasised that investment in good quality housing can bring returns in health and environmental outcomes. The European Commission (DG (...)

Children and Their Connection with Nature

The working group meeting hosted by MEP Judith Merkies (S&D, NL) and Gerald Häfner (Greens, DE) examined why children’s connection with nature is important and how can it be stimulated. During the Meeting, Tim Gill, British author and public speaker, presented the outcomes of the ’Sowing the Seeds’ project. Previous research has suggested that a child’s contact with nature is particularly important. Natural environments are said to have restorative qualities (...)

Eurobarometer reports: Discrimination in the EU 2012 (1) & Accessibility (2)

European anti-discrimination legislation is among the most extensive in the world. In 2000, the European Union adopted two very far-reaching laws [Directive 2000/43/EC and Directive 2000/78/EC] to prohibit discrimination in the workplace based on racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation. As far as racial and ethnic origin is concerned, this legislation extends to other aspects of daily life, such as education and social services. These reports (...)