Future of European Community (EC) activities in the area of public health

This paper, prepared by the European Public Health Alliance, explores the future of EC activities in the health area, and how Article 129, the new public health chapter in the Maastricht Treaty, may best be interpreted and put into effect, once the Treaty has been ratified. The reference in Article 129 to ‘major health scourges, including drug dependence’ implies the need to set priorities. These should go be the principal killing diseases, and include the many other factors which have a major impact on wellbeing, such as risk factors and especially the socio-economic environment. The selection of major health scourges should be inclusive rather than restricted. The primary selection principle for setting priorities should be policy-relevance—i.e. that an important health problem can be addressed by one or more actual or potential Community policy areas. Health Protection has historically been highly beneficial, and is especially applicable to Article 129, with its accent on health protection requirements forming a constituent part of the Community's other policies. The new chapter provides an opportunity for important initiatives, for example re-introduction of the Nutrition Programme, linked with other EC policy areas, especially the Common Agricultural Policy. A senior Commission member should be made responsible for all public health activities, who will be visible and accountable. The Council of Health Ministers should take over certain areas currently dealt with by other departments. The budgetary allocation for activities relating to public health should be greatly increased.

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  Jennifer S Mindell, J Mindell et al.•Journal of Epidemiology and…•2004

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