The Public Health Programme is a key strategic tool for the development of health policy within the European Union. The programme provides the means to support actions in areas where the EU can make a difference, the ultimate goal being to contribute to a high level of physical and mental health and wellbeing throughout the EU.
The EEA EFTA States have participated in the EU’s Public Health Programmes since 1995/1996. The 2003-2008 programme united eight previous programmes:
Today’s Public Health Programme is based on three general objectives:
The programme also builds on experience acquired in an international context, in particular cooperation with organisations such as the World Health Organization and the Council of Europe.
EU Health Strategy
Building on previous work and supported by the Public Health Programme, the European Commission's new health strategy aims to provide, for the first time, an overarching strategic framework spanning core issues in health as well as in all health policies and global health issues. The strategy aims to set clear objectives to guide future work on health at European level and to put in place implementation mechanisms to achieve those objectives, in partnership with the EU Member States.
The EU Member States are competent for most actions in the field of health, but the EU has the responsibility to undertake certain actions that complement the work done by the Member States (e.g. cross-border health threats, patient mobility and the reduction of health inequalities). By participating in the Public Health Programme, as well as many of the committees and experts groups established by the Commission in the field of health, the EEA EFTA States contribute actively to the shaping of the new health strategy.
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