Health Policy

Each EU country is free to decide on the health policies best suited to national circumstances and traditions, but they all share common values. These include the right of everyone to the same high standards of public health and equity in access to quality health care. So it makes sense to work together on common challenges, ranging from ageing populations to obesity. The EU is also committed to taking the implications for health into account in all its policies.
Moreover, diseases know no borders, particularly in a globalised world where many of us travel widely. Joint action adds value when facing potential threats such as influenza epidemics or bioterrorism. It is also equally logical that the EU has common standards on safe food and nutrition labeling, the safety of medical equipment, blood products and organs, and the quality of air and water.1
The program is based on three general objectives:
Health information,
Rapid reaction to health threats,
Health promotion through addressing health determinants.
The Commission’s mission is to achieve high level of health protection by using close cooperation with science and technology achievements, risk assessments and professional societies in the member states.2…