CYPRUS PRESIDENCY OF THE COUNCIL OF THE EU

Transcription

1 CYPRUS PRESIDENCY OF THE COUNCIL OF THE EU July December 2012 Research Symposium on Digestive and Liver Diseases Brussels, 18 September 2012 Dr Myrto Azina- Chronides Ministry of Health Cyprus

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3 Digestive and Liver Diseases Digestive system: Can be affected by a wide diversity of acute and chronic diseases. It can affect individuals of any age, race or ethnicity, gender, or socioeconomic status. Burden on healthcare systems. Associated with significant mortality, morbidity, and loss of quality of life, impact on patients ability to work / engage in everyday activities.

4 Main Diseases/ Epidemiological Data in Europe Liver diseases: Viral infections : Mainly Hepatitis forms: Hepatitis A Hepatitis B Hepatitis C Alcohol: Cirrhosis and Hepatoma Nutrition: Fatty liver Drugs and toxins: cirrhosis or hepatitis/hepatoma Immune system Genetic conditions: haemochromatosis, Wilson s Disease, Gilbert s syndrome etc. Prevalence of liver diseases: approximately 6% in the EU (29 million people). Mortality rates: vary (53.6 per Hungary, 4.4 per Netherlands)

5 Epidemiological Data in Europe Digestive diseases: colorectal cancer mortality rate: Pancreas Cancer mortality rate: Oesophagus Cancer mortality rate: Non-malignant diseases: Crohn s disease, irritable bowel syndrome, coeliac disease human and financial burden.

6 How can we reduce the burden? A comprehensive and holistic Control strategy should be introduced that focuses on: Primary Prevention Secondary Prevention Accelerated Diagnosis procedures and contemporary Diagnosis Measures Therapy based on guidelines and protocols Palliative Care and Research

7 Focus on Research Health Research: Many breakthrough discoveries that have advanced our understanding of digestive system biology and function. Improve health and quality of life of many people with digestive diseases. Safeguard the sustainability of Healthcare Systems (cost effective solutions). Reduce inequalities (within and between MS).

8 Research Achievement examples Molecular signaling pathways: genetic basis of colorectal cancer Stem cell research: future clinical applications in digestive disease therapy. Development and licensing of two rotavirus vaccines Endoscopic imaging techniques Identification of genes that increase susceptibility to inflammatory bowel diseases. Identification of the microbe Helicobacter pylori as a cause of peptic ulcer disease.

9 Health Research and Innovation in Europe The aim of the EU investment in Health research is to improve the health of European citizens, address global health issues and boost the competitiveness of European healthrelated industries. Seventh Framework Programme (FP7): Various chronic diseases: inflammatory bowel disease and fatty liver disease/cancer

10 Health Research in Europe II-facts and challenges Societal impact EU funding for health represents 10% of the overall EU research funding budget(usa:>3.5x)- Brain Drain! Multidisciplinary collaboration should be encouraged Coordinating strategy among various stakeholders (PPP) Develop international partnerships in order to increase competitiveness Safeguard sustainability

11 Future developments in the most important fields Increase knowledge base for understanding health and digestive diseases. Translate new knowledge for the direct benefit of patients. Develop research resources (synergy between different funding programmes) and infrastructure. Give incentives and opportunities for future research investigators.

12 The Cyprus Presidency Main Health Priority: Towards a Better Health for All Invest in Actions that will: Identify the importance of innovation in the provision of high quality, cost-efficient healthcare services Assure healthy ageing across the lifecycle Enable cross-sectoral collaboration Introduce patient centred healthcare InnovaHealth Conference, , Larnaca, Cyprus, focuses on: A) Personalised Medicine B) Preventive Health and Wellness C) ehealth D) Nutrition and Health care E) Building an Open Innovation ecosystem for Health Care

13 The Cyprus Presidency Main Presidency Health Related Events in Cyprus Presidency Conference on Communicable Diseases 5 th July 2012 Informal Meeting of the Ministers of Health 10 th 11 th July 2012 High-Level Conference on Healthy Ageing 5 th 6 th September 2012 INNOVAHEALTH Conference 11 th 13 th October 2012 Chief Medical, Chief Nursing and Chief Dental Officers Meeting 9 th 10 th October 2012 Annual meeting of the Advisory Forum of EFSA 5 th 7 th December 2012

14 By seeking and blundering we learn Goethe!

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