Commissioner Vassiliou launches Europe for Patients campaign

EU Commissioner for Health Androulla Vassiliou launched yesterday the 'Europe for Patients' campaign in Brussels. The campaign highlights the different health policy initiatives the Commission intends to adopt in the coming 6-9 months. All these initiatives are bound by a common goal – better healthcare for all in Europe. The initiatives address patient safety, rare diseases, organ donation and transplantation, cancer screening, health workforce, flu and childhood vaccination and antibiotic use.

The proposed Directive on the application of patients' rights in cross border health care is the first initiative under the campaign and was adopted by the Commission in July 2008. The launch unveiled a Europe for Patients logo and a webpage on the EU Health Portal in 22 languages which will become an information centre where documents, articles and events will be posted in relation to the Europe for Patients initiatives. This will provide a simple entry point to the often complex world of EU healthcare policies and actions. It will better explain what we are doing at European level and how it can benefit citizens in the field of health. The website also provides an opportunity to post national and regional news and events.

Speakers at the launch included Mrs Androulla Vassiliou, Commissioner for Health, Mr Vincent Richez, representing the French EU Presidency, Mrs Marian Harkin, Member of the European Parliament and Mr Anders Olauson, President of the European Patients Forum. The launch was chaired by Mr Robert Madelin, Director General of Consumers and Health Directorate General of the European Commission. Participants at the launch included; patients associations, health professionals, national and regional representatives, European parliamentarians, industry, insurers and many other health organisations.

More information here