Hungary will focus on cardiovascular diseases and organ transplants during its six-month presidency of the European Council, putting other issues on the back burner, according to priorities published on Tuesday (18 June).
“Hungary sees health in a more strategic way, rather than in a legislative way,” a Hungarian diplomat told Euractiv, noting that health is seen as “an overarching goal to strengthen EU industry, foster competitiveness and enable economic growth” while keeping an eye on “demographic challenges such as ageing.”
Cardiovascular disease
Cardiovascular disease is high on the agenda, with the European Commission, the European People’s Party (EPP), the European Social and Democrats (S&D) and the Green Party/European Liberal Association (EFA) also making it a priority.
According to Eurostat, diseases of the cardiovascular system are the leading cause of death in the EU, accounting for almost a third (32.7%) of all deaths in 2020. Hungary has one of the highest mortality rates due to coronary heart disease.
Hungary will present a concept paper on cardiovascular diseases at a conference organized by the European Society of Cardiology in Budapest on July 4. Hungary will draft a European action plan addressing prevention, innovation and treatment, taking into account geographical and gender inequalities.
Organ transplantation
Organ transplantation is the second most important issue: Hungary wants to revitalize its Action Plan on Organ Donation and Transplantation (2009-2015).
A high-level conference on organ donation and transplantation is scheduled to be held in Budapest on July 11.
In other health areas, Hungary will likely lag behind by cooperating with international organizations rather than taking the lead.
mental health
Mental health is one of them. Hungary will focus on prevention and resilience, and will raise awareness of the consequences for depression and anxiety of the “current multiple crises” created by war, the aftermath of the pandemic and the threat of climate change. Particular attention will be paid to mental health issues, with a focus on women. The Hungarian Presidency intends to reflect this in the Council’s conclusions.
Hungary will support the World Health Organization’s efforts to hold a conference on mental health in Brussels on October 7.
Hungary also intends to close files remaining from the current European Commission mandate (2019-2024), namely the medicines package including rare diseases and antimicrobial resistance, the European Health Data Space and the Pandemics Convention.
Pharmaceutical packaging
Regarding the medicines package, Hungarian diplomats seem to be ambivalent and intend to act only as good faith brokers guiding the negotiations, which are expected to last until 2025. Priority areas of the package will be financial incentives for research and innovation and market access authorizations.
Pandemic Treaty
As for the pandemic treaty, Hungary will, as expected, insist on concluding the negotiations by May 2025, or even sooner.
European Health Data Space
Regarding the European health data space, Hungary is organising a closed, informal lunch of ministers on 24th and 25th July to ensure the implementation of the recently adopted regulations.
Occupational Health
Hungary will pay particular attention to occupational health and safety issues in the implementation of the European Occupational Health Directive. The latest package of amendments to the Directive on occupational safety limits for carcinogenic, mutagenic and reproductive toxic substances is due to be published in September 2024.
In other news
No time to cut the EU health budget
EURORDIS-Rare Diseases Europe, a non-profit alliance of over 1,000 rare disease organisations, is urging newly elected MEPs to make health a top priority, raising alarm over a 20% cut to the EU4Health budget and changes to funding allocation. Virginie Bros-Facer, CEO of EUORDIS, said: “It is crucial that health remains at the forefront of the EU agenda to protect the health of the most vulnerable groups, especially those suffering from rare diseases.”
Securing radioisotopes
Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides tweeted that the council had reached a decision to secure supplies of medical radioisotopes that are “essential for life-saving treatments,” a decision the Belgian presidency can add to its list of achievements.
EMA – Test, test
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is coordinating a Europe-wide consultation on the International Conference on Harmonisation (ICH) guidelines on general principles for the planning, design and analysis of pharmacoepidemiological studies that utilise real-world data for the safety assessment of medicines. While medicines are tested in clinical trials, pharmacoepidemiological studies gather further information about the real-world use of medicines after they have been approved for clinical use.
ECDC – Olympics, UEFA and Health
The ECDC has published recommendations to prepare for mass gatherings for events such as the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games and the UEFA 2024 Football Cup, warning that failure to follow public health guidelines increases the chance of an epidemic-level outbreak.
ECDC – Andrea Amon to retire at the end of June
Andrea Ammon, Director of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), is retiring after 19 years with the organisation which has grown dramatically since its founding in 2005. Ammon began his career in 2005 as Head of Surveillance and became Director in 2015.
EU4Health Webinar
The live webinar will take place on 26 June. This information session will be organised by the European Health Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA) in collaboration with DG SANTE and will provide information on the Call for Proposals for EU Action Grants in the field of Cancer under the EU4Health Programme (EU4H), an annual work programme for 2024 that includes four different topics. The overall budget of EU4Health for 2024 is €752.4 million.
Virtual Healthcare
Philips has released the results of its Future Health Index 2024 report, showing how AI-enabled healthcare will help address workforce shortages, economic burdens and growing demand.
“Involving staff in this effort is key to ensuring a comprehensive AI deployment that puts patient and clinician experience first,” said Shez Partvi, chief innovation and strategy officer at Philips.
Tobacco – Being surrounded by smoke
European anti-fraud agency OLAF said in its annual report that its activities in 2023 led to the seizure of more than 616 million illegal cigarettes worldwide, of which 331 million were seized at the EU’s external borders. This prevented losses of more than 151 million euros to EU and national budgets, the agency said.
Health is not a priority in the Council of the EU’s strategic agenda for 2024-2029
According to a leaked draft of the EU’s strategic agenda seen by Euraactive, the European Council will not consider health as a priority for the next five years.
Leaked: Spain to ask member states for medical aid for patients in Gaza
According to the leaked document seen by Euraactive, Spain will ask EU health ministers to help transfer patients in need of urgent medical care from Gaza to EU countries willing to provide such services.
Italy opposes reference to “safe and legal abortion” in draft G7 statement
Italy tried to block language on sexual and reproductive rights from being included in the draft G7 statement.
News from the capital
Sofia
The Bulgarian government will implement an extensive cervical cancer screening programme to bring the country closer to the EU average, providing €4.5 million in initial funding to be transferred to the National Health Insurance Fund. More information here.
///
The Hague
Dutch researchers say that falling costs of innovative medicines are not being passed on by pharmaceutical companies. The expansion of indications for innovative medicines does not lead to lower drug prices, according to Dutch researchers. They argue that pharmaceutical companies often do not pass on the economic benefits to patients and health services. Read more.
///
Brussels
Sanofi urges next Commission to strengthen European research capabilities.
Sanofi highlights Belgium’s strategic importance in its pharmaceutical research and development efforts, and also sees the EU’s potential to lead the artificial intelligence-driven medical revolution, especially in drug discovery and development. Read more here.
///
Stockholm
A strike by Swedish health care workers is intensifying as the holiday season approaches.
Massive medical protests continue across Sweden, with 3,300 medical workers on strike, operations cancelled and waiting times lengthened. Read more.
19 June – Executive Vice-President for Economic Affairs Valdis Dombrovskis presents the European Semester Spring Package with recommendations on economic policies and reforms, including health, to member states.
19 June – Committee of Permanent Representatives of Member States Governments (COREPER I)
21 June – The Council of Health Ministers (EPSCO) discussed the Incentive Cluster, adopted a recommendation on vaccine-preventable cancers and approved conclusions on the European Health Union.
24-26 June – European Medicines Agency Homeopathic Medicines Working Group
June 26-28 – Quality Control Working Group – Head of Pharmaceutical Agency
*Clara Bauer Babeuf, Haven Dugger and Catherine Fiore contributed to this report.
[Edited by Alice Taylor]
