The EU is required to ensure that human health is protected across all policy areas, and to work with EU countries to improve public health, prevent human illness and eliminate sources of danger to physical and mental health.
The EU Health Programme outlines the strategy for ensuring good health and healthcare. It feeds into the overall Europe 2020 strategy which aims to make the EU a smart, sustainable and inclusive economy promoting growth for all – one prerequisite for which is good health. The Programme is focusing on major Commission priorities, such as:
- Jobs, growth and investment (health of population and health care services as a productive factor for growth and jobs)
- Internal market (for pharmaceuticals, medical devices, cross-border health care directive, and Health Technology Assessment)
- Single digital market (including eHealth)
- Justice and fundamental rights (fighting against health inequalities)
- Migration policy
- Security (preparedness and management of serious cross border health threats).
2014-2020
Regulation (EU) No 282/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2014 on the establishment of a third Programme for the Union's action in the field of health (2014-2020) and repealing Decision No 1350/2007/EC
