Responding to the COVID-19 pandemic: A catalyst for change in EU health policy 

Recognising the need for increased EU cooperation amidst a borderless health challenge, the pandemic spurred action at the EU level beyond crisis management. This unprecedented crisis served to lay the foundation for enhanced coordination among EU Member States in order to safeguard public health and forge ahead towards the creation of a European Health Union. The EU's commitment to bolstering healthcare resilience is evident through ongoing initiatives such as crisis preparedness, the implementation of new regulations addressing serious cross-border issues, the revised mandates for the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA), the revision of EU general pharmaceutical legislation, and the implementation of Europe's Beating Cancer plan. 

Continuing the fight: Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan and future priorities in the field 

An outstanding success of the current legislative mandate has been Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, an EU-wide framework that has facilitated bold and ambitious first steps in cancer prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment. Several goals and projects still must be completed, including the commitment for the National Comprehensive Cancer Infrastructures to be fully operational by 2025, as well as the implementation of the SAMIRA Action Plan and Health Technology Assessment throughout 2024 and 2025. 

While the plan has planted some seeds of hope amongst stakeholders that the Commission will launch similar plans for other pathologies, Europe’s Beating Cancer, and, in general, the fight against cancer across the bloc, are foreseen to remain key priorities in the upcoming legislative term. The continuous commitment to ensuring effective cancer policies is widely championed by the biggest political faction of the European Parliament, the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP), which, in fact, promised the full implementation of Europe’s Beating Cancer plan in its political manifesto published ahead of the June elections. 

Advancing cardiovascular health: A growing priority for the next EU agenda 

Considering the greater interest in health and the importance of addressing varied health challenges, including those impacting the lives of more than 52 million people in the EU, the recognition of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in relevant policies has gained momentum over the last years. There is no doubt by now that the next Commission and eager lawmakers will do their utmost to make the EU’s biggest killer, CVD, a priority. 

This was made particularly evident after the EPP itself called for the launch of a European Cardiovascular Health plan, which should include a European Knowledge Centre and promote a Joint cardiovascular and diabetes health check. Given that 85% of the people living with diabetes die from cardiovascular disease, the political group stressed in its manifesto how investing in healthy longevity is the best way to alleviate the burden of ageing on budgets and to make individuals’ longer lives also healthier. 

Navigating mental health challenges: A timely policy imperative 

With societal factors negatively affecting individuals, coupled with recent emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the energy crisis, and rising costs due to inflation, mental health issues have also come under closer scrutiny by policymakers and the EU executive. The latter unveiled a long-awaited Mental Health Communication in June 2023, comprised of 20 flagship initiatives and €1.23 billion in EU funding. 

The next EU mandate is slated to bring the topic of mental health high on the political agenda, with many stakeholders hoping a comprehensive strategy will be decisive step towards improved mental health across the Union. Additionally, the identification of a European Mental Health Strategy or an EU Action Plan for Mental Health in the EPP and Social and Democrats (S&D)’s manifestos underscores the necessity of continuing the work in this area and not letting it be a stand-alone issue under this legislation. 

Shedding light on a overlooked item in the ongoing mandate: Rare diseases 

Considering the absence of such a policy area in present initiatives, relevant stakeholders have already expressed their interest in prioritising rare diseases at the European level, following the elections. After a strong call by civil society for an EU strategy on rare diseases in October 20231, it is expected that the bloc will move forward in this area and push Member States to develop more robust national plans for rare diseases. 

Exploring additional healthcare priorities: Aging-related diseases with strengthened healthcare infrastructure and empowered care workforce 

In the face of an increasingly aging population, expectations by policymakers and stakeholders have also mounted towards giving greater policy attention in the next 5 years to Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and Parkison’s disease. These conditions are all ticking time bombs and could offer an opportunity for the EU to lead in this space, provided that adequate investments in healthcare infrastructure or increased funding for research are channeled accordingly. 

The EU’s rapidly changing demographic outlook is exerting pressure on Member States’ healthcare systems, necessitating a change in approach. Addressing the long overdue-need to boost the EU’s care workforce, the current Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU has taken concrete steps by promising a dedicated strategy before the end of its six-month term. The focus on having a healthy and robust care workforce should remain  a key feature of the mandate of the next Commission and EU agenda. 

Without proper planning, financing, upskilling, and reskilling of the health workforce, there is a risk of widening inequality gaps. Investment in health systems across the EU is therefore crucial to prevent further inequalities and ensure they are prepared for the inevitable. It is our responsibility to ensure that EU legislation impacting all health sectors fosters innovation and competitiveness, considering the strain on our health systems and the aging demographic of patients. However, all eyes are now on budgetary constraints in health, exemplified by recent cuts to the EU4Health programme by 15%, a result of increased financial support towards defense matters and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. While such a reshuffle in budget allocation may pose a challenge to advancing health priorities, opportunities for innovation and collaboration appear to abound, with stakeholders advocating for leveraging existing funds and fostering stakeholder engagement to drive healthcare innovation and access. 

Completing “unfinished business”:  the way forward for ongoing policy work 

At the same time, as legislative work intensifies in the crucial weeks leading up to the EU citizens’ vote, several other files will resurface on the EU agenda, influencing the health landscape until 2029. This includes, amongst others, the affordability of medicines, avoiding shortages, and underlining the need to foster pharmaceutical innovation through the revision of the general pharmaceutical legislation, as well as unlocking or harnessing the potential of health data via the European Health Data Space (EHDS). Whether an agreement on the latter will be reached in the coming months remains to be seen. However, its implementation should be high on the agenda in the coming years. The EHDS not only has the potential to enhance patient outcomes and drive innovation in health research but is also essential for creating additional data spaces. It is worth mentioning that its harmonisation with various regulations, including the proposed AI Act, GDPR, and measures under the Medical Devices Regulation for AI-based applications, would be critical for a comprehensive and effective approach. Having said this and moving forward, digitalisation and AI must remain a priority beyond 2024, particularly in healthcare.   

Conclusion 

While EU citizens navigate the road to the 2024 elections, the imperative of shaping robust health policies and redefining priorities within the area remains paramount. Building on past achievements whilst addressing emerging challenges will require concerted efforts from policymakers, stakeholders, and citizens alike. The necessity of tackling health issues through solid policies would also serve as a response to the Eurobarometer’s latest survey ahead of the European elections2. The data collected across the 27 countries showcases health as one of the top concerns for voters (32%), reflecting the support for the EU to take more action in the field of health. By tacking this forecasting into account and prioritising health as a cornerstone of EU governance between 2024 and 2029, the EU and its Member States can chart a path towards a more equitable, accessible, and resilient healthcare system.