A prime good

The actions of the European Union in the protection of health are being stepped up. Collaboration between the Community level and national policies is being increased at the same time, especially in the field of medical research, prevention, and action to control epidemics (e.g. “mad cow” and bird flu), and the defence of consumers.THE ROLE OF THE INSTITUTIONS AND SPECIALIZED AGENCIES. Some of these questions were at the centre of discussions at the EU Council for Social and Health Policies held in Brussels on 30-31 May. For its part the European Parliament always has some dossiers in the field of health protection on the agenda of its plenary sessions or in the work of its committees. And various specialized EU agencies devote full-time activity in this field: the European Drug Agency, the Food Safety Agency, the Agency for Security and Health on the Workplace, the European Centre for the Prevention and Control of Diseases, and the European watchdog on drugs and drug addiction. The Commission for its part intervenes – as it did on several occasions in recent days – with provisions and measures both on the internal and external front (including the provision that allocates 300 million euros to curb Aids, tubercolosis and infectious diseases in the developing countries).ORGAN TRANSPLANTS: A EUROPEAN CARD? The European Commissioner for Health, MARKOS KYPRIANOU , presented on 30 May a Communication adopted by the Executive, proposing actions to reinforce cooperation between member states in the field of the removal and transplant of organs. “Thousands of lives are saved in Europe each year thanks to donations – he said -. Many more lives could be saved if we could reduce the shortage of organs”. The Cypriot Commissioner explained the Commission’s intention to draft “a directive that would establish norms of quality and safety” and be favourable to an EU list of those willing to donate their organs. “An EU donor card and the introduction of common regulations would bring an added value to national efforts that are mainly aimed at ensuring a sufficient supply” of kidneys, livers, hearts and retinas removed from deceased persons. The Executive’s proposals include the creation of the role of “coordinator of organ removals and transplants” in each European hospital. In support of its proposals, the Commission has published the data of a Eurobarometer survey, according to which “56% of citizens are willing to donate their own organs after death”, while 81% of citizens agree with the proposal to introduce a donor card, “but so far only 12% of them possess one”. “HELP”, ANTI-SMOKING CAMPAIGN. Another battle joined by the EU is that of combating smoking. Nine out of ten European countries would now like smoking to be banned in public offices and public buildings. “Despite so large and compact a front against cigarettes and cigars, however, 15% of deaths in Europe are still linked to smoking”. The last survey conducted by Eurobarometer on the question was presented on World Anti-Tobacco day on 31 May. Diseases due to tobacco annually cause the death of 650,000 people: that’s why the 27 member countries of the EU are promoting “a huge anti-smoking campaign, aimed at all age groups and young people in particular”. A key element of the campaign is the initiative “Help: for a life without tobacco” (http://it.help-eu.com/). “Beginning from 31 May – explains an EU statement -, those who wish to give up smoking can count on assistance by e-mail. And those who are tempted to smoke a cigarette every so often can find advice on-line about how to avoid nicotine dependence”. “Beginning from 31 May – explains an EU statement -, those who wish to give up smoking can count on assistance by e-mail. And those who are tempted to smoke a cigarette every so often can find advice on-line about how to avoid nicotine dependence”. AN OVERWEIGHT CONTINENT. “Due to the growth of obesity, the dietary regimes and physical activity of Europeans are becoming two priority questions for the EU”: Commissioner Kyprianou also presented last week a white paper “containing various proposals to tackle the problems of health linked to diet, overweight and obesity”. These are typical problems of the rich and developed societies of the Western world. The document, which will form the basis for a debate on a continental scale, attests that “in the majority of member states more than half of the adult population is overweight or obese” and according to the World Health Organization “obesity has more than tripled in many European countries since the 1980s”. Concerns about the spread of child obesity are also increasing. “What consumers eat is their business, but they must have the chance to make conscious choices and to have at their disposal a range of healthy options”. The sectors in which the Commission is proposing new initiatives include: food labelling, the advertising of food products, “programmes for the promotion of the consumption of fruit and vegetables”, and research and forms of awareness-raising on healthy diet among consumers.