(10.6.2008)
At today’s meeting of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO) in Luxembourg, EU Health Ministers adopted conclusions on implementing the EU Health Strategy presented by the European Commission in October last year. The key to achieving strategy goals and resolving other important strategic issues is intensified structured cooperation between the Council and the Commission. According to the Council President, Slovenian Health Minister Zofija Mazej Kukovič, “The increased commitment of the EU Member States and the Council to the area of health in the EU and in issues with an impact on health and health systems as well as closer cooperation with the Commission would mean real added value for the EU Member States. It would also ensure the integration of health into all policies.”
The ministers confirmed the proposal on reworking the mandate of the high-level group on health care drafted by the Slovenia Presidency in cooperation with the EU Member States. Through appropriate high-level representation of the Member States and the European Commission, this body would enable discussions on strategic matters related to health and healthcare systems, determine priority tasks, objectives and necessary actions at the EU level and monitor their implementation. Through its working methods and mandate, the group on health care would thus assist the Council in implementing its strategic role of addressing and defining key health issues at EU level.
In future, the European Commission is expected to actively support this strategic cooperation with appropriate contributions from all the sectors that may impact on health. At the same time, the Commission undertook to examine existing structures in the area of health and determine criteria for rationalising these structures to avoid the duplication of efforts and ensure efficiency.
At their meeting, the Council of Ministers also adopted conclusions on information to patients on medicinal products. The Council President, Slovenian Health Minister Zofija Mazej Kukovič, commented, “The Council conclusions seek to express the common position of the EU Member States on providing information to patients on medicinal products”, adding that, once the conclusions were adopted, she had therefore proposed a political debate aimed at identifying how to effectively distinguish medicinal information and advertising.
The ministers were unanimous in considering that information on medicines to which patients had access must be high in quality, objective, reliable, complete, understandable and non-promotional. The ban on advertising prescription medicines should be maintained, and interpretations and definitions as to what distinguished medicine-related advertising and information should be harmonised.
The ministers also mentioned the urgent need to develop models enabling activities in this field to be monitored and supervised, and the need to reduce the current differences between EU Member States in terms of the accessibility of information on medicines to patients.
(10.6.2008)
Today (10. 6.2008) in Luxembourg, the Minister of Health of the Republic of Slovenia, Zofija Mazej Kukovič, chaired the second day of the meeting of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO). The EU Ministers of Health adopted Council conclusions on the reduction of the burden of cancer, in which they called upon the Member States to develop and implement comprehensive strategies for cancer control. Such strategies should include “disease prevention, early detection, high-quality treatment, psychosocial support, rehabilitation and palliative care,” emphasised the current Council President, Slovenian Health Minister Zofija Mazej Kukovič. Following a successful expert conference on the subject, Slovenia has thus achieved a political commitment on the part of the Member States to reducing the burden of cancer.
The ministers’ discussions once again highlighted the great importance of prevention. At least one third of cancers can be prevented. In the conclusions, the ministers call for the further development and implementation of actions in the field of health promotion and disease prevention with a view to reducing the exposure of individuals to key risk factors such as smoking, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and harmful and dangerous consumption of alcohol.
The debates on reducing the burden of cancer held during the Slovenian Presidency will have a considerable influence on the work of the European Commission downstream. The Commission is expected to draw up an action plan on cancer control in the EU including all the aspects of comprehensive cancer control. Implementation of the action plan will help reduce not only the burden of cancer but also that of many other chronic diseases. This was also a goal set by the Republic of Slovenia in the area of health when taking over the EU Council Presidency.
In addition, the EU Health Ministers adopted Council conclusions on antimicrobial resistance, an issue to which Slovenia has paid particular attention. The excessive and erroneous use of antibiotics has encouraged the development and spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and other micro-organisms. As a result, today, we are faced with the problem that certain traditional treatments have lost their efficacy which poses a serious threat to public health worldwide as well as in Europe.
In the conclusions adopted today, the Council calls upon the Member States to establish structures and earmark funds for implementing the 2002 Council recommendations on the prudent use of antimicrobial agents in human medicine and to continue to carry out special strategies aimed at the management of antimicrobial resistance.
The Member States should further promote the prudent use of antibiotics through programmes raising the awareness of the general public, medical practitioners, health professionals, health professionals in the veterinary sector, including veterinary surgeons, involving credible, scientifically-supported evidence-based messages and actions, including information on the risks of inappropriate use and self-medication.
The Council called upon the European Commission to support research in the area of antimicrobial resistance and, in line with the Health in All Policies approach, to promote further cooperation among all Directorates-General and relevant agencies and to facilitate cooperation between Member States in all aspects of managing antimicrobial resistance.
The Slovenian initiative on controlling antimicrobial resistance has triggered more in-depth discussions on this burning issue and has thus achieved the Presidency’s set objective. The European Commission and the upcoming EU Presidency countries have already confirmed that antimicrobial resistance will be included among their priorities in the future.
(5. June 2008)
A meeting of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO) will be held in Luxembourg on 9 and 10 June. On the second day of the conference, 10 June, EU Health Ministers will convene at a meeting chaired by the Slovenian Minister of Health, Ms Zofija Mazej Kukovi?. In the morning, the Ministers will discuss reducing the burden of cancer, antimicrobial resistance and implementation of the EU Health Strategy.
After the discussion on reducing the burden of cancer, a Slovenian Presidency priority, the Ministers are expected to adopt Council conclusions noting the need for a comprehensive strategy covering the key areas of prevention, early detection, treatment, rehabilitation, palliative care and research in order to manage cancer successfully.
Council conclusions are expected on antimicrobial resistance, an area in which there is a pronounced need for inter-sectoral cooperation in the further implementation of recommendations on the rational use of antibiotics in human medicine.
The Council is also expected to adopt conclusions on implementing the EU Health Strategy presented by the European Commission in October last year. The key to achieving strategy goals and resolving other important strategic issues, however, is intensified and more structured cooperation between the Council and the Commission. The Ministers are therefore expected, in their conclusions, to confirm a reworking of the mandate of the high-level group on healthcare. With adequate high-level representation of the Member States and the European Commission, this body would enable discussions on strategic matters related to health and healthcare systems, determine priority tasks, objectives and necessary actions at EU level and monitor their implementation.
The Ministers are expected to adopt conclusions on information to patients on medicinal products, emphasising the need to make a distinction between information and advertising.
The afternoon session of the Council meeting will see the presentation of a progress report on the discussions on the proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and Council on novel foods aimed at ensuring food safety, protection of public health and consumers’ interests as well as smooth functioning of the single market. The European Commission will provide information on the proposal for an EU legislative framework relating to the enforcement of patients’ rights in cross-border healthcare. The Slovenian Minister of Health, Ms Zofija Mazej Kukovi?, will report on the different matters discussed during the Slovenian EU Council Presidency.
(19. May 2008)
Slovenian Health Minister Zofija Mazej Kukovič presents EU positions at 61st World Health Assembly
In Geneva today, Slovenian Health Minister Zofija Mazej Kukovič attended the 61st session of the World Health Assembly at which representatives of the 193 WHO Member States were deciding on the work programme and the use of the WHO budget. In the address she delivered on this occasion, the Minister and current President of the EU Council of Ministers, presented the European Union’s positions. She emphasised the increasing burden of non-communicable diseases which are no longer an issue of the developed world alone, and identified tackling cancer as a priority of the Slovenian EU Presidency. As Mrs Mazej Kukovič maintained, a comprehensive approach including prevention, early detection, treatment, rehabilitation and palliative care as well as research is needed in order to successfully manage cancer and other non-communicable diseases. She also drew attention to risk factors for cancer such as smoking, harmful consumption of alcohol, certain levels of physical activity and dietary habits.
In her address, the Minister also touched on the effects of climate change on the health of the entire population and stressed that today’s discussion had to help towards developing a global plan to control the health risks associated with climate change.
Mrs Mazej Kukovič also underlined the endeavours of the European Union to achieve the Millennium Development Goals related to health and reported on progress made in the area of HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis.
On the margins of the session, Mrs Mazej Kukovič met Dr Margaret Chan, the Director-General of the World Health Organization. Their talks focused on the topical issues in the area of health. Among other subjects, the Minister acquainted Dr Chan with the course of the Slovenian EU Presidency and progress made on specific subjects.
(7.May 2008)
The Portorož Declaration , 7 May 2008: eHealth 2008 Conference Declaration eHealth in a Europe “without frontiers”: Building New Initiatives - Working Together
(29. April 2008)
Networking Meeting of Competent Authorities for Pricing and Reimbursement of Pharmaceuticals, Brdo, Slovenia, April 28-29, 2008
Delegations of 27 EU/EEA Member States established a network of Competent Authorities for Pricing and Reimbursement of Pharmaceuticals at the meeting held at Brdo, Slovenia. The event was jointly organized by the Slovenian EU Presidency Program and the European Commission. Minister of Health of the Republic of Slovenia Mrs. Zofija Mazej Kukovič and Mr. Heinz Zourek, Director General, DG Enterprise, European Commission, addressed the meeting as the high representatives of the organizers. They stressed the importance of the formation of the network in the view of maintaining the balance among the three important goals in the field: enabling the access to medicines to patients, managing the budgets for medicines, providing for the reward for innovation, as well as the necessity to improve the access to medicines to the EU/EEA national markets.
The participants agreed on the main elements of the network such as its objectives, scope, membership, organization and support, and working methods. The network is designed as an informal a strategic and bridge building platform for the Member States. It is intended to exchange experience and information on decision making in the area of pricing and reimbursement of pharmaceuticals. While the competence of the Member States in the area is maintained, the network contributes to their efficient decision making by providing a place to address high level topics of common interest. It relies on the knowledge gathered in the recent initiatives with EU/EEA relevance such as Pharmaceutical Forum, Infoprice, PPRI and others.
The membership of the forum includes the authorites/bodies of the Member States that are vested by national laws to make administrative decisions in the area, and the competent general Directorates of the European Commission. The Network is developing relationships with stakeholders, interested organizations and third countries. It is coordinated by a group composed of four Member States linked with EU Presidency sequence and the Commission. Among working methods, regular meetings, IT supported interaction and appropriate public visibility are planned.
Addressing the emerging and outstanding topics in the area such as fair price formation, better access to information on reimbursement status of medicines, orphan medicines policy, affordable access to essential medicines in all markets, the network is expected to contribute to the efficient regulation in the area for the benefit of EU citizens.
speach of the Minister
(18.April 2008)
The second day of the Informal Meeting of Ministers for Health the Slovenian Minister of Health, Zofia Mazej Kukovič, chairing the meeting, recalled that 18 April is also marked by the European Patients’ Rights Day.
http://www.cittadinanzattiva.it/content/view/537/334/
Cross-sectoral cooperation necessary for the management of antimicrobial resistance
Ministers support structured cooperation to help implement strategic EU health goals
(17. April 2008)
Overall strategy needed for successful cancer management
The ministers of health who met today at an informal meeting in Brdo pri Kranju have just concluded a debate on reducing the burden of cancer, the main topic of today's session. Slovenia as the presiding country raised this issue of cancer on the political level after a successful conference at the professional level. In this manner, we would like to make a significant contribution to the reduction of the cancer burden and inequalities in morbidity and survival rates for patients with cancer among the Member States and within them. "In order to successfully manage cancer, it is necessary to design an overall strategy and an action plan encompassing all the relevant elements: prevention of disease, early detection, treatment, rehabilitation and palliative care, as well as research. Without a comprehensive approach, the disease cannot be successfully managed," pointed out the presiding Slovenian Minister of Health, Zofija Mazej Kukovič.
Press release 1
Press release 2
(14. March, Brdo pri Kranju)
On 13 and 14 March 2008 EU Chief Medical Officers' Meeting was held within the framework of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of EU, hosted by prim. Janez Remškar, Director-General of Health Care System Directorate at the Ministry of Health. The meeting was exceptionally successful in relation to the content and organization.
The highest-level representatives of Member States in the field of health exchanged a lot of information on the current situation in the field of public health and health system reforms. Especially interesting mutual discussion of participants referred to the field of patient safety, children’s health, anti-tobacco legislation, fight against cancer, education of health care personnel and other important issues.
Important messages were also presented by the representatives of the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe and the Council of Europe. The WHO Regional Office for Europe was represented by Dr Mark Danzon, Regional Director, and his deputy, Dr Nata Menabde, while Dr Piotr Mierzewski presented the report for the Council of Europe.
Part of the EU Chief Medical Officers’ Meeting was held together with national focal points for antimicrobial resistance, namely in cooperation with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), who also met at a separate meeting on 13 March 2008. The conclusions of the joint meeting were presented to the participants at the end of the meeting by Mrs Marija Seljak, Director-General of Public Health Directorate within the Ministry of Health. Because antimicrobial resistance presents a serious health risk in fight against infectious diseases and because it is an important topic, with which in addition to Slovenia also the next two presiding states shall deal, the meeting of the experts and health policy-makers was very useful.
11th NEC Forum, 28 –29 February 2008, Brdo Congress Centre, Brdo pri Kranju, Slovenia
speech of the Minister (English)
speech of the Minister (French)
(7. February 2008, Brdo pri Kranju)
Prevention has been shown to be the most effective means of reducing the burden of cancer
At Brdo pri Kranju, the Slovenian Minister of Health, Mrs Zofija Mazej Kukovič, today opened a two-day conference entitled “The Burden of Cancer - How Can it Be Reduced?”, the main Presidency event in the field of health. “According to data for the majority of European countries, the incidence of cancer in women and men has been increasing despite achievements in cancer prevention and treatment. One in three EU citizens will suffer from cancer in their lifetime and one in four will die of cancer,” stressed the Minister, going on to say that the ageing society is expected to cause a rise in the number of patients and therefore increase the burden of cancer over the next years and decades. The Minister pointed out that our goal should be “to prevent the preventable! At least one third of cancers can be prevented. Disease prevention has been shown to be the most effective - and hence strongest – means of reducing the burden of cancer in each country.”
Slovenia selected cancer as a health priority during its EU Council Presidency, as the data reveal that, for the majority of European countries, the incidence of cancer in women and men has been increasing despite achievements in cancer prevention and treatment. Cancer is the second most important cause of death in developed countries, sharing many risk factors with cardiovascular disease. In order to successfully tackle the burden of cancer, we need a comprehensive approach at all levels, ranging from disease prevention, organised screening and early detection to optimal treatment, rehabilitation and palliative care, combined with investment in research in all these areas.
The conference, which is attended by representatives of the EU Member States, the European Commission, the European Parliament, experts in cancer research and treatment and members of specialist associations and non-governmental organisations, provides an opportunity for exchanging information, experiences and good practices in the field of comprehensive cancer treatment, focusing on the possibilities for more effective joint actions at EU and national level with a view to reducing the burden of cancer in future. The chief objective pursued by the Slovenian Presidency initiative is how to reduce the burden of cancer and how to reduce the inequalities in morbidity and survival rates for patients with cancer across the EU. The first step towards achieving this objective is to review what has already been done in the field and to determine key recommendations for future measures. This specifically is the purpose of the conference.
In addition, cancer will be the main topic of discussion at the informal ministerial meeting held in April at Brdo pri Kranju and chaired by Slovenia as the presiding state. Based on the discussions at the conference, the Presidency plans to prepare corresponding Council conclusions, which will be submitted to the EPSCO Council for adoption at its June session in Luxembourg.
speech
(26.January 2008, Geneva)
EU supports faster progress in implementing Millennium Development Goals
Press release
EU statements final as delivered
(22. January 2008, Brusselles)
European Parliament welcomes the Slovenian decision to take comprehensive action against cancer
The Slovenian Minister of Health, Zofija Mazej Kukovič, today in Brussels presented the Slovenian Presidency’s health priorities to the European Parliament Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety and called for the constructive cooperation of the Members of the European Parliament during the Presidency.
Mrs Kukovič informed the MEPs of the Presidency’s priority issue, namely cancer, stating that “much has been achieved in health policy at the EU level in several domains which have a direct and positive impact on cancer prevention and control. However, both the current situation and predictions of the future burden of cancer call for a stronger political response.” Mrs Kukovič added that, with the initiative on cancer during its Presidency, Slovenia is calling for action to reduce cancer incidence and mortality, to improve cancer outcomes, to reduce differences in terms of prevention and control of cancer between and within EU Member States. In order to successfully tackle the burden of cancer, we need a comprehensive and integrated approach at all levels, ranging from disease prevention, organised screening and early detection to optimal treatment, rehabilitation and palliative care, combined with investment in research in all these areas.
Besides the central theme, Mrs Kukovič also presented other important issues on the agenda of the Slovenian Presidency: antimicrobial resistance, reduction of alcohol-related harm and e-health.
Speech of the Minister Zofija Mazej Kukovič (.jpg.) - English
Speech of the Minister Zofija Mazej Kukovič (.jpg.) - French |
