These days EU4Health, the European program in the health sector that will accompany us for the next 7 years, came into effect. Let’s find out together
EU4Heatlh: a key-program for health and resilience
The “mosaic” of European programs from 2021-2027 is gradually beginning to come together. We recently published important updates regarding Horizon Europe and Erasmus+. We expect that important updates on all the other programs will gradually appear between the pages of our Guide, more and more frequently.
Today we discuss the EU4Health program, formerly known (more simply) as the Health program. The program is now in its fourth year (the first was in 2003). This latest edition is, among the four, the one accompanied by more political attention and a larger budget. Indeed, the EU4Health program invests in numerous health-related policy issues, many of which have become more evident during the current pandemic.
The priority nature of the area covered by EU4Health has led to its a approval officer quick, earlier than other programs: a priority and speed shared with other programs aimed at combating the consequences of the pandemic, such as REACT-EU (aimed at overcoming the Covid-19-induced economic and social crisis) and the well-known Recovery and Resilience Device (to which we dedicated various insights).
EU4Health: the fruit of a broad policy debate
The legislative path of the EU4Health program regulation was concluded last March 26 with its final publication in the Official Journal.
The policy debate on this issue has been very multifaceted and has involved various dimensions: all related to one of the EU’s major strategic priorities, the creation of a broader, integrated “European Health Union.”
The areas touched by this debate are many, so we will just mention the main ones: the technologies in support of the health sector; the health-related data sharing; i border controls to address health threats; the workers’ health; the preparedness for public health emergencies; combating cancer; disease prevention and control; study, control and procurement of medicines; and establishment of a common pharmaceutical strategy.
EU4Health: key features
The EU4Health 2021-2027 program has a total endowment of 5.1 billion euros (amounting to almost 10 times that of the previous Health 2014-2020 program), available to strengthen the resilience of health systems, promote innovation in the health sector, and respond to the health emergencies of our time and the future (Covid-19, communicable and noncommunicable diseases, cancers, lifestyles).
Thematically , in addition to combating Covid-19 and cross-border health emergencies, the main health priorities identified are fighting cancer, combating antibiotic resistance, and improving vaccination rates. The recently enacted Regulations are very detailed and include 10 objectives, which are in turn broken down into dozens of possible actions:
- Support for prevention and health promotion actions, functioning of health and care systems, and responses to EU long-term health challenges (min. 20% of budget);
- Rapid response to serious cross-border health threats and emergencies;
- Improved availability and accessibility of medicines, devices and products for health care use;
- Supplement to national stocks of essential health products (max. 12.5% of the budget);
- Formation of a reserve of mobilizable medical and health personnel for emergencies;
- Effective use of health data and digital technologies applied to health;
- Universal access to quality health and care services;
- Improved health legislation and decision-making at the EU level;
- Integration of the work of member states’ health systems;
- Support for global health commitments and initiatives (max. 12.5% of the budget).
EU4Heath Will work in synergy with other funds and programs that may involve similar or related aspects: the ESF (access to medical care by vulnerable groups), the ERDF (regional health infrastructure), Horizon Europe (health research), RescEU (emergency supplies), Digital Europe and Connecting Europe Facility (digital infrastructure and tools that can be used in health care).
EU4Health: the tools available
Like other major programs, EU4Health offers a variety of effective tools for practitioners and potential beneficiaries. We recall in particular:
- 24 European thematic networks on specific aspects of medical and health care;
- A detailed statement with frequently asked questions and answers regarding EU4Health;
- A rich database with thousands of implemented projects and participating organizations;
- An interesting program of events, including two very recent ones whose videos and materials are available online, one more specific (March 24) and one more general (January 22);
- A new Executive Agency (operational as of April 1) in charge of program management, theHealth and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA), with pages dedicated to managed programs (including but not limited to EU4Health), news, events and calls;
- National Focal Points, experts appointed by the respective ministries of health with a supporting role with respect to program activities at the national level.
EU4Health: ready to go
Also with EU4Health we have all the elements to organize the activity during this year and the rest of the seven-year period. Its presence and recent official launch (both closely linked to the broader project of a “European Health Union“) are a hopeful sign for Europe’s health future.
We look forward to the work program and the first notices shortly. Keep following us.
