About Us - EU4health

About the Campaign

70% of Europeans want the EU to do more for health, according to a recent Eurobarometer survey. This is why a pool of European organisations came together to ensure that the European institutions will continue to guarantee health protection and promotion.

Started as a reaction to the Future of Europe white paper presented in 2017 by European Commission President Jean Claude Juncker, which included, in the 5 outlined scenarios, the option to “do less” on some policy areas, the EU4health campaign aims to ensure that EU action on health remains strong after 2020.

The EU4Health Civil Society Alliance brings together organisations that share the vision of a Europe where all people are as healthy as they can be throughout their lives. COVID-19 has shown EU action on health is more urgently needed than ever Europe cannot wait for the next pandemic for more EU action on health. The time to invest in a healthy future is now. Read our latest statement here

Read & sign the statement

Read & Sign

Why do we need EU action on health?

Health protection and improvement is a great success story of the European Union.

Unprecedented health and social challenges can only be tackled at a European level. There has never been a stronger case, or a more vital moment for Europe to work together to protect our health. Whilst life-expectancy has improved, the years gained are often lived in relatively poorer health due to the proliferation of preventable chronic diseases, compounded by huge disparities that persist within and between member states. Average life expectancy is 12 years shorter for a man in Lithuania than in Italy. Discrimination and inequality remains widespread when it comes to access to healthy living conditions and healthcare.

Europe is facing important health threats which must become a top priority for this Commission. We face common challenges from drug-resistant infections, spikes in chronic diseases, obesity, alcohol-related harm, infectious diseases, emerging technologies, rising prices of medicines, and inequities in access to healthcare, that can be tackled together far more effectively.

What does the EU do for your health?

Health protection and improvement is a great success story of the European Union. Life expectancy is rising across the EU. Accession to the Union is positively correlated with health gains and longer lives. Without EU level action and support of the Health Programme, EU citizens would be more at risk from health threats.

European integration and collaboration has brought great benefits for our health and provides vital resources for our health services: free movement of health professionals, health technologies and patients. We are assured of our right to treatment in other member states, under common minimum safety and quality standards. Thanks to cross-border collaboration, highly specialised expertise will be shared across borders, thanks to the recent European Reference Networks for Highly Complex and Rare Diseases – an area not only where EU-wide strategies are effective, but also where the added value of EU action is striking.