EU wants to step up plans for fair health worldwide

The European commission is looking for opinions about how its policies can help to improve health in developing countries in line with the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

In particular, the EU is looking for views about how it can reduce the unfair differences in the health of people in developing countries, to encourage better social cohesion and more political stability.

The European commission is also interested in consulting among a wide range of organisations about how best to meet the challenges of ensuring equitable access to modern knowledge and tools and to help countries identify, monitor and report health challenges.

Additionally, the public consultation asks for views on health problems that have been neglected by the EU and international health research agenda.

The consultation is in the form of a questionnaire and background paper outlining the main issues.

“[T]here is not yet a comprehensive EU strategy aiming at strengthening the overall capacity of health systems in developing countries to deliver accessible health care...to wide strata of the population,” according to the background paper.

“EU Member States are gradually recognising the need for a strategic course, policy coherence and common values on global health,” the document adds.

Opinions are also sought on prioritising global public goods for health and the potential for using the EU social model as a framework for establishing global health equity.

Please note that the deadline for submitting a response to this consultation is 09 December.

You can access the consultation documents on the website of the European Commission Directorate-General for Development at

http://ec.europa.eu/development/how/consultation/index.cfm?action=viewcons&id=4765

We are very interested in hearing your views so please get in touch with any responses you have about these important issues.

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