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Health
Health brief: Fundamental health questions left unanswered
Est. 10minBoth the cuts to the EU4Health programme and delays on tobacco control action have left many unanswered questions about the EU health priorities over the past week.
Coronavirus: What’s happening in Europe
Est. 1min*** This tracker has been suspended. Look back at how the pandemic hit across Europe and find out what policy measures European governments implemented to counter the first wave. EURACTIV will keep you updated on the latest COVID-19-related news from across Europe, …
Cholesterol: The overlooked chronic disease
Est. 1minEuropeans suffer from the highest bad cholesterol in the world, with a prevalence of 54% for both sexes, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). However, the chronic disease continues to be neglected by policymakers, in favour of other long-term illnesses.
![Doctor examining obesity patient [Photo: Shutterstock]](https://www.euractiv.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/08/healthy_waist_patient.jpeg)
Diabetes: the EU’s heavy burden
Est. 1minAn estimated 32 million people in the European Union (8.1%) were living with diabetes in 2013. Although policymakers are now paying special attention to the issue and to obesity-related conditions more generally, health experts say more can be done to tackle what the EU considers as a chronic disease.
Cardiovascular disease: Social and economic impacts
Est. 1minThe number one killer in Europe, cardiovascular disease, is set to become an even greater burden on the already recession-hit continent's health systems. Therefore, the Commission is now trying to tackle the growing problem with different initiatives and health programmes.
Fighting alcohol harm: The EU’s strategy under review
Est. 1minEuropeans have the highest per-capita consumption of alcohol, and drinking causes nearly 1-in-10 cases of ill health and premature death. The European Commission’s informal alcohol strategy, launched in 2006, is set for a detailed evaluation in 2013, with the policy objective of reducing the health and social harm caused by excessive alcohol consumption.
Medical Devices: A new regulatory landscape
Est. 1minFollowing a huge health scandal involving faulty breast implants sold around Europe, the European Commission published proposals in late 2012 for a new regulatory regime for medical devices.
Changing consumer behaviour to sustainability
Est. 1minConcerns about the sustainability of natural resources are rising, prompting policymakers and companies to encourage consumers to think green. Labelling is one way of doing this, but consumer groups advise against confronting shoppers with too much information and warn that green claims aren't always independently verified.
Austerity: Healthcare in hardship
Est. 1minHealthcare budgets constitute one of the largest chunks of public expenditure throughout the EU, and the associated industry is considered one of Europe’s success stories. Europeans consider healthcare as one of the benchmarks that sets the continent apart in terms of quality of life from other nations. But the ageing demographic, and the shock of the financial crisis have brought the contrast between Europe’s ideals and reality sharply into focus.
Consumer empowerment: Helping shoppers to buy green [Archived]
Est. 1minAs pressure mounts to lead sustainable lifestyles, policymakers and companies alike are mulling new ways of encouraging shoppers to buy green. But consumer groups warned against confronting shoppers with too much information and warned that companies' green claims are often not independently verified.
Eating green? Food, drinks and the environment [Archived]
Est. 1minFood multinationals are showing increasing interest in measuring their water and carbon footprint but the proliferation of green claims often leaves consumers wondering about sustainable food choices.
The battle for EU consumer rights
Est. 1minThe EU's new Consumer Rights Directive is designed to drag consumer rights legislation into the 21st Century by creating legal certainty for businesses and better protecting online shoppers in particular. But EU policymakers are currently at loggerheads over the scope of the draft law.
Medicines in emerging markets
Est. 1minFast-growing economies such as China and India could provide lucrative new markets for Europe's pharmaceutical industry, but emerging nations are investing heavily in their own medicines sector and look set to challenge Western dominance of the healthcare market.
Consumers: Buying green?
Est. 1minEnvironmentally-friendly goods are often overpriced for many consumers – and as the economic crisis continues to bite, policymakers are mulling tax incentives to make green shopping more affordable.
Health Literacy: skills for living
Est. 1minThe first half of 2013 will witness the Council and Parliament finalising the Commission's new proposals for updating the directive on information to patients on medicines. The new regime that this ushers in will aim to tackle almost half of Europe's patients, who are 'health illiterates'.
Counterfeit medicines: A growing health threat
Est. 1minThe dangers of fake medicines are due to be addressed in upcoming EU legislation but an international solution may be needed to solve a problem with global implications.
Healthcare innovation: The cost killer?
Est. 1minHealthcare innovations such as eHealth and telemedicine offer new prospects for cost savings and improved quality of care, but expensive new technologies are also driving medical inflation and the benefits may not always be distributed equally.
Sport and the EU treaties
Est. 1minSo far, the EU's involvement in sport policy has revolved around its economic aspects but with the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty on 1 December 2009, Europe now has a legal base to provide a supporting role to member states in the social, educational and cultural aspects of sport.
eHealth
Est. 1mineHealth, one of the priorities of the EU's i2010 programme to boost innovation and jobs, aims to provide user-friendly and interoperable information systems for patients and health professionals across Europe.
EU sport policy
Est. 1minFollowing the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty on 1 December 2009, the EU is starting major preparations to successfully implement Europe's new competence on sport and develop the bloc's first sports programme, to be launched in 2012.
Personalised healthcare
Est. 1minThe European Commission is promoting hi-tech solutions to prevent chronic diseases and meet the health challenges of the 21st century.
Patient mobility
Est. 1minIncreased cross-border patient mobility has public finance implications but better co-ordination of national health policies and more co-operation at European level is expected to bring benefits both to patients and health systems. However, the directive on cross-border healthcare remains blocked at European Council level.
Sport and Intercultural Dialogue
Est. 1minAlready accepted as a tool for social integration, sport is also seen as a means of promoting intercultural understanding in an increasingly diverse Europe.
Women and Sport
Est. 1minMen rule in sports, both as athletes and coaches as well as consumers of the sports entertainment industry. Encouraging women and girls - who often drop out of sport too early - to get more involved is a challenge.