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Good governance for health

Health governance includes all mechanisms, processes, institutions through which people can voice their interests and rights. This also entails engaging with civil society and taking their concerns into accoun in policy making.

Over the past two decades the dialogue between European institutions and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) has turned into a number of informal and formal structures that is often referred to as civil dialogue and stakeholder dialogue. However, some major shortcomings can be seen and civil society experiences challenges in voicing their views in the EU.

EPHA and other actors of civil society advocate for greater civic participation and more transparency of EU decision making.

In addition, EPHA promotes initiatives and provides information on processes that support institutional independence, responsiveness and effectiveness. While working on overarching democratic structures, we also look at health as a horizontal issue.

About: Civil Society , Transparency , better regulation , impact assessment , governance , health promotion , corporate policies , Health in all policies , European Citizens’ Initiative , participation , Fundamental Rights , European Ombudsman

1/05/2013

European Year for Citizens - moving to a Union for Citizens

On 23 April 2013 the European Ombudsman, P. Nikiforos Diamandouros, organised a high level event to help focus on European citizens and how they can contribute to shaping the European Union. The Ombudsman was joined by, among others, Martin Schulz, President of the European Parliament, Viviane Reding, Vice-President of the European Commission, and Maroš Šefčovič Vice-President of the European Commission. EPHA congratulates the European Ombudsman for addressing the (...)
About : Civil Society , Economic crisis , EU Institutions , European Citizens’ Initiative , rights of people with disabilities , social inclusion
1/05/2013

[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 (...)
About : Civil Society , Economic crisis , economic policies , EU Institutions , financial , social inclusion , Social Issues , social policy
10/05/2013

[Médecins du monde] Access to healthcare in Europe in times of crisis and rising xenophobia

On the 9th of April 2013, Doctors of the World International Network (Médecins du monde) presented its latest report, with some of the results of comparative data collected in 2012 in 14 cities across seven European countries. This report covers a sample of 8,412 patients, 19,302 consultations (including 10,968 medical consultations) and 11,921 diagnoses reported by their volunteer health professionals. In order to capture the context in which this data collection took place, a concise (...)
About : beyond-GDP , Civil Society , Economic crisis , economic policies , exclusion , health economics , Health Inequalities , social protection , vulnerable groups
15/04/2013

Policy responses to the economic crisis – a shift towards investing in health?

About : Access to Medicines , Civil Society , council of the european union , Economic crisis , economic policies , EU Institutions , financial , health system , Innovation , patient rights
11/04/2013

[EPT] Fund for European Aid - European Fund - Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived (updated on 18 March)

Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived The European Commission (DG Employment) has proposed to set up a European Aid Fund to help the most deprived persons in the EU. A successor to the Food Aid to the Most Deprived, this new Fund would support member state schemes not only by providing food aid to the most deprived people, but also clothing and other essential goods to homeless people and materially-deprived children (such as shoes, soap and shampoo). The proposal is yet to be (...)
About : agriculture , CAP reform , Children health , Civil Society , council of the european union , EU funds , EU Institutions , Europe 2020 , farmers , food safety , food security , Innovation , poverty and health , prevention , Research , social determinants of health , social policy , Sustainable Development , vulnerable groups
18/03/2013

Can Health Impact Assessment methods be used to tackle global health equity?

A recent survey has examined if current health impact assessment (HIA) methods could be used to tackle global health equity. The poll shows that HIA do not address the issue of equity adequately. Existing HIAs will therefore require new, more sensitive tools measurements. The study looks at whether health equity impact assessments can be used to measure economic agreements, market regulation, and public policies. The results has proven that in current HIAs, equity is not addressed (...)
About : better regulation , beyond-GDP , Civil Society , economic policies , equity , EU Institutions , Health Inequalities , impact assessment , Transparency
5/03/2013

Decision day - Farms instead of Factories

Will our tax money continue to flow into the pockets of agribusiness and monocultures? Or will Europe’s farm subsidies finally be used to fund a sustainable and globally responsible agriculture? On 12 March 2013 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) will hold a final debate on how they will vote on the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) the very next day. On the very same day, civil society representatives will be in Strasbourg to call for the start of a new agricultural policy fit (...)
About : agriculture , CAP , CAP reform , Civil Society , food safety , food security , social determinants of health
3/03/2013

Involvement of civil society organisations crucial to effectively run EU funds, says EU-Commission

The European Commission responds to a civil society open letter by assuring its determination to defend the objectives of the European Code of Conduct on Partnership. In November 2012 the Platform of European Social NGOs sent an open letter to the Council, the European Parliament and the Commission supporting the proposal on the Partnership principle in the regulation on structural funds. The letter voiced concerns on a existing trend towards weakening participation of socio-economic and (...)
About : better regulation , Civil Society , Development and Health , environment , EU funds , Europe 2020 , European Commission
1/03/2013

[Open Letter] 250 Organisations Alarmed by the Prospect of Regressive Common Agricultural Policy reform

A healthy common agricultural policy (CAP) is very relevant in the context of tackling chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs). That is why the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) and the European Public Health & Agriculture Consortium (EPHAC) - along with more than 250 NGOs - have signed up to an open letter from civil society calling for a public health & environmental friendly CAP reform. This should be a wake-up call for all members of the European Parliament. Why is the (...)
About : agriculture , CAP , CAP reform , Civil Society , EU budget , farmers , food safety , food security , Health-promoting environment , Sustainable Development
11/03/2013

[EPHA Recommendations] Public health priorities towards Horizon 2020

Negotiations among EU Institutions are about to begin on the future research programme after the adoption of the partial general approach by the Competitiveness Council and the report by the Industry, Research and Enegery Committee in the Parliament. EPHA highlights seven ways in which EU leaders can ensure that investing research and innovation brings the greatest possible advancements in health and science, while creating accessible public goods. In its policy document, EPHA provides (...)
About : Civil Society , data protection , EU budget , global health , Innovation , Research , technology

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