[EPHA newsletter] October 2006 issue

[Guest guest]

Dear friends;

The European Union has a tendency to restrict freedom of medicine with

very severe laws. here is an organization trying to establish freedom in

Europe for Medicine.

Robb Thurston

 

<http://www.epha.org>

 

Welcome to the *October 2006* edition of the EPHA Newsletter.

 

On the 25 October, the European Commission unveiled the EU Strategy to

support Member States in reducing alcohol related harm

<http://www.epha.org/a/2418> - a very disappointing text for health NGOs

which hoped for a stronger commitment from EU officials.

 

The Strategy predominately promotes an education approach to combat Alcohol

related harm which has be proven not to be effective instead of the proven

best practice strategies such as better regulation of the product and its

marketing.

 

While the paper makes clear that the European Commission does not intend to

develop EU legislation in the field of the prevention of alcohol related

harm, the Strategy contains five priorities and a set of tools for each

priority area. The tools include areas where the EU can support Member State

activities as well as some European mechanisms, such as stakeholder forums

and other self-regulatory measures.

 

It is clear that the Strategy is very weak from the point of view of public

health protection, however, given the enormous pressure from the alcohol

industry and other parts of the Commission to water down and even to hamper

the approval of the Strategy, health NGOs welcome the principle of a EU

Alcohol Strategy and commit to continue support DG Sanco in its efforts to

reduce harm done by alcohol in Europe.

 

Unfortunately, the process leading to the approval of the Alcohol Strategy

is another example of the undue influence of the industry in EU policy

making. European health NGOs <http://www.epha.org/a/2413>, now more than

ever, will continue working for a transparent and representative EU policy

making process.

 

Read all the online articles of our newsletter for October

2006<http://www.epha.org/m/160>

..

------------------------------

 

EPHA members can find the following new information in the Members Only

section <http://www.epha.org/r/3>:

 

[image: *] EPHA's 2007 International Conference on Health and the

Enlargement: 1st call for workshop leaders <http://www.epha.org/a/2437>

 

[image: *] DG Sanco Stakeholder Involvement Peer Review Group

<http://www.epha.org/a/2433>, report of last meeting

 

[image: *] NGOs prepare for Euro-WHO's Ministerial Conference on Obesity in

November 2006 <http://www.epha.org/a/2169>

 

[image: *] NGOs call a strong European Strategy on alcohol related harm

<http://www.epha.org/a/2413>, summary of the NGO mobilisation in the last

weeks in support of a strong EU Alcohol Strategy

 

About EPHA <http://www.epha.org/r/13> Newsletter October

2006<http://www.epha.org/a/2438> Secretariat

News October 2006 <http://www.epha.org/a/2426> World Mental Health

Day<http://www.epha.org/a/2384>The 2006 World Mental Health Day

Campaign " Building Awareness - Reducing

Risk: Mental Illness and Suicide " took place on 10 October. As a leading

cause of premature and preventable death, suicide is a major public health

issue. Meeting with Polish health NGOs to promote the creation of a national

platform <http://www.epha.org/a/2394> Agnese Knabe, the coordinator of

EPHA's activities in new member states, was invited to take part in a

meeting organised by Polish NGOs to establish a regional platform on public

health in Poland on 25th September. The meeting was initiated by the NGO

Foundation for the Children of Copper Basin. Developing a national platform

of health NGOs in Cyprus <http://www.epha.org/a/2409> The Pancyprian

Organization of the blind held a seminar and workshop in Cyprus on 17th

October 2006 to promote the development of a national platform in Cyprus. New

EU trade rules threaten the health of European

babies<http://www.epha.org/a/2435> In

July 2006 EU Member States gave way to the European Commission and voted to

adopt a revised Directive on the composition and marketing of infant

formulae and follow-on formulae wich relaxes the restrictions of the

previous Directive. Raising Awareness of Continuous Professional

Development<http://www.epha.org/a/2441>Three members of EPHA -

European Federation of Nurses Associations (EFN),

European Region of the World Confederation for Physical Therapy

(Physio-Europe), and the Pharmaceutical Group of the European Union (PGEU) -

have drafted a resolution on Continuous Professional Development. Albanian

Association for Prevention and Rehabilitation from AIDS and Drugs

<http://www.epha.org/a/2442> EPHA is recruiting an Advocacy and Policy

Officer to work on Global Health <http://www.epha.org/a/1727> EATG recruits

a policy officer for their Brussels Secretariat

<http://www.epha.org/a/2436>The European AIDS Treatment Group (EATG)

secretariat, which is located in

Brussels, has an opening for a Policy Officer. European Global Health

Network <http://www.epha.org/a/2424> Officially launched on the 27th October

2006, this network gathers 15 European NGOs working on health and

development issues. EPHA is one of the Brussels-based partners. EFA Allergy

Patient Manifesto published <http://www.epha.org/a/2432> The European

Federation of Allergy and Airways Diseases Patients' Associations (EFA) has

released an " European Allergy Patient Manifesto " . 9 Million Euros to fight

against TB for the Global Alliance for TB Drug Development

<http://www.epha.org/a/2412> The Global Alliance for TB Drug Development

announced that they have received a grant of 9 million euros from the Irish

government to help combat tuberculosis which continues to kill 2 million

people every year. Engaging the health community in environmental health

issues - workshop in Paris <http://www.epha.org/a/2414> The Health and

Environment Alliance (HEAL) and the United States collaborative of Health

and Environment (CHE) are to hold a workshop in Paris entitled networking &

engaging health communities in environmental health issues on November 10th

2006. Hypertension guidelines published by the Royal College of Physicians

<http://www.epha.org/a/2416> The National Collaborating Centre for Chronic

Conditions at the Royal College of Physicians develop an up-date of the 2004

recommendation guideline on Hypertension. Stress and Cardiovascular Disease

- New Paper by the European Heart Network <http://www.epha.org/a/2420> The

European Heart Network (EHN) has recently published a 40-page paper entitled

" Stress and cardiovascular disease " . This paper surveys the major studies

covering several aspects of stress and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Patients

want and need results of clinical trials <http://www.epha.org/a/2423> The

European Breast cancer Coalition, Europa Donna advocates for the right of

patients to have access to full information on clinical trials. NGOs call a

strong European Strategy on alcohol related

harm<http://www.epha.org/a/2413> The

European Commission is to publish the much-awaited EU strategy on reducing

alcohol-related harm on the 25 october 2006. Leading national and European

non-governmental organisations urge the European Commission to resist

alcohol industry pressure to abandon its alcohol harm reduction strategy. EU

Alcohol Strategy: People or profits - Who's being served? - Eurocare press

release <http://www.epha.org/a/2408> The European Commission is due to

publish the much-awaited EU strategy on reducing alcohol-related harm.

Eurocare urges the European Commission to resist the alcohol industry

pressure to water down the future Strategy.

 

Environment <http://www.epha.org/r/16> **Updated** EPHA, EEN and EFA call

on MEPs to improve air quality legislation

<http://www.epha.org/a/2315>Updated with latest actions in October

2006. Road

Safety Award to a small town in England <http://www.epha.org/a/2428> The

Voice project, of which EPHA is a partner, presented its annual award to

promote good practice to protect vulnerable road users to Rob Tinlin, the

mayor of Southen-on-Sea, on the Southern coast of England. **Updated** The

NGO mobilisation for a strong REACH <http://www.epha.org/a/2007> Environment

and Health NGOs actively campaign together to promote a healthy REACH while

the legislative agenda moves towards a final adoption by the end of the

year.

 

Europe <http://www.epha.org/r/10> European Commission asks for further

thoughts on the EU Health Strategy <http://www.epha.org/a/2434> In July

2004, then Health Commissioner Byrne launched a reflection process and

public debate on the vision for a health strategy for the EU. The

conclusions of the debate were published in October 2004. The Communication

was expected for the end of 2005. **Updated** Romania and Bulgaria join the

EU in January 2007 <http://www.epha.org/a/2019> Following a series of

monitoring reports Bulgaria and Romania will be welcomed by the European

Commission into the European Union on 1st January 2007, however both

countries are required to meet strict EU conditions if they are to escape

" remedial measures. " Transparency Drive Extends to EU Structural

Funds<http://www.epha.org/a/2329>The EU's current transparency drive

challenges national governments with the

new requirement to fully disclose information on recipients of EU structural

funds. Member States are now required to publish detailed data on the

recipients, projects and amounts of structural aid cash they receive from

the EU. EU worst lobby Award 2006 <http://www.epha.org/a/2431> Corporate

Europe Observatory, LobbyControl, Spinwatch and Friends of the Earth Europe

launch the Worst EU Lobbying Award 2006 which aims to identify the most

dubious influence lobbying. Re-organisation within DG

Research<http://www.epha.org/a/2430>The European Commission recently

re-organised its Directorate General

dealing with Research. What agenda for the EU in

2007?<http://www.epha.org/a/2429>The European Commission's agenda for

2007 will be built around four overall

priorities: prosperity, solidarity, security and a stronger voice in the

world. There is a clear focus on prosperity - alike the 2006 agenda - with

emphasis on energy, economic migration, defence industries and

markets. Participating

in Debate on the Future of Europe - A Call for Action

<http://www.epha.org/a/2422> The biggest ever pan-European debate of all 25

EU Member States has been launched to find out what Europe's citizens want

from Europe and which issues matter to them most.

 

Food and Agriculture <http://www.epha.org/r/17> British Retail Consortium

Debate - Retailer Action or just Distraction?

<http://www.epha.org/a/2407>EPHA participated in a debate with the

food industry on healthy eating

issues, organised by the British Retail Consortium. EPHA took the

opportunity to raise the issue of independent development of nutritional

profiling by food manufacturers and retailers. Transparency over CAP

expenditures <http://www.epha.org/a/2427> EU governments have agreed to

publish the names of all recipients of the Union's farm subsidies and how

much they receive from 2009 at the latest, subject to final agreement with

the European Parliament. Industry's New Marketing Rules - The Latest

Stunt?<http://www.epha.org/a/2419>Worrying initiatives are being

launched in the current debate on advertising

and marketing to children. The latest action of the food and drink industry,

as led by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), is a new Framework

for Responsible Food and Beverage Marketing Communications. The framework

represents a further effort by industry to self-regulate.

 

Publications and Events <http://www.epha.org/r/60> Inspection and

Monitoring of Mental Health and Social Care Institutions

<http://www.epha.org/a/2439> The Mental Disability Advocacy Center (MDAC)

organises an international conference on inspectorates in mental health and

social care institutions. The one day conference takes place on November 25,

2006, in Budapest. Exchange programme to strengthen civil society in

CEEs<http://www.epha.org/a/1959>The International Fellowship Programme

(IFP) for Central and Eastern

European (CEE) Foundations and NGOs invites applications and searches for

host institutions for its third round, beginning in spring 2007.

 

Society <http://www.epha.org/r/18> *UPDATED* Green Paper on a European

Transparency Initiative <http://www.epha.org/a/2289> **UPDATED with EPHA

response** The long awaited Green Paper on a European Transparency

Initiative has been adopted in May 2006. Eurobarometer indicates high

misconceptions about HIV/AIDS <http://www.epha.org/a/2417> Findings from the

Commission's latest Eurobarometer on HIV/AIDS has identified an alarming

lack of understanding about HIV and other sexually transmitted infections

(STIs), especially in new member states. Organisations join forces in the

fight against TB in Europe <http://www.epha.org/a/2410> The International

Federation of the Red Cross and Red Cresent Societies unite with the World

Health Organisation (WHO) , The European Centre for disease prevention and

control (ECDC) and several other organisations to launch Stop TB Europe Towards

stronger alcohol policies in Europe? The pressure is on in the UK and

Finland <http://www.epha.org/a/2425> While European initiatives on Alcohol

related harm and advertising on TV have been watered down, two calls for

stronger alcohol control policies come from Member States: the Finnish

government plans to implement a watershed to prevent alcohol advertising

before 9pm and the UK Advisory Council for the Misuse of Drugs asserts the

need for better alcohol control measures as education proves unsuccessful. The

'Alcohol Strategy': a missed opportunity to protect health

<http://www.epha.org/a/2418> On the 25 October, the European Commission

unveils the EU Strategy to support Member States in reducing alcohol related

harm - a very disappointing text for health NGOs which hoped for a stronger

commitment from EU officials.

 

Wealth <http://www.epha.org/r/34> European Medicines Agency Update - New

Budget and Transparency Measures <http://www.epha.org/a/2421>

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