Informal Meeting of Health Ministers 19 20 March, 2017 Grand Master s Palace, Valletta MEDIA BACKGROUND NOTE
Informal Meeting of Health Ministers 19 20 March, 2017 Grand Master s Palace, Valletta MEDIA BACKGROUND NOTE 20 th March, 2017 The meeting will be chaired by Chris Fearne, Maltese Minister for Health, and will be split into four sessions as follows: Session I (09:45-11:15): Childhood Obesity: Halting the Rise Session II (11:45-12:30): HIV/AIDS: Scaling up efforts Session III (14:00-15:30): Structured Cooperation Session IV (15.30 17.00): Structured Mobility of Medical Specialists The Maltese Presidency holds the subject of health in high regard and considers the Informal Meeting of Health Ministers as an important platform for European Health Ministers to meet and work together in synergy so that health can be kept at the centre of the EU agenda. This meeting will be an opportunity for health ministers to discuss the actions required in curbing childhood obesity, opportunities for enhancing structured cooperation between health systems and the situation of HIV/AIDS in Europe. Page 2
Childhood Obesity: Halting the Rise Rapid increases in the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children across all ages is posing a burden on EU countries. The far-reaching consequences of childhood obesity run throughout the life course and result in a myriad of complications. Hence, childhood obesity is a major public health concern. Various actions have been taken across member states and yet we are still faced with increasing rates. The focus of health ministers' discussion on this topic will seek to identify comprehensive future actions to effectively heighten responses in addressing childhood obesity. HIV/AIDS: Scaling up efforts Another item that has been placed on the agenda for further discussion by health ministers focuses on HIV. During the last decade, despite impressive gains in reducing the number of cases of AIDS, the burden of HIV infection remains unacceptably high in Europe. Each year about 30 000 people are newly diagnosed with HIV in the EU/EEA, and almost another 110 000 people are known to be infected in the broader European Region. By scaling up responses, fast track actions on HIV will seek to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030 in the European Union. Structured Cooperation Improving access to innovative technologies for Rare Diseases. Health systems in Europe have been developed around the core values of equity and solidarity. They have played an important role in contributing to the quality of life as well as increasing the life expectancy of European citizens. Sustaining high quality health systems has however become a key challenge for many policy makers seeking to reconcile fiscal sustainability targets with the provision of innovative and highly specialised technologies and services to our citizens. During the informal meeting, priority areas for enhanced voluntary cross-border collaboration in the procurement of innovative health technologies for Rare Diseases will be discussed. Page 3
Structured Mobility of Medical Specialists Enhancing access to specialised services. During the informal meeting, cross-border collaboration for enhancing further the health workforce capacity through the provision of training in highly specialised health services will be discussed. In this respect, structured mobility for the training of medical specialists and appropriate mechanisms that will facilitate joint work whilst respecting the principle of subsidiarity will be explored. Page 4
Press/Media Contacts Malta (Primary contacts during the informal Council) Roberta Fenech: +356 7970 1529; roberta.b.fenech@gov.mt Brussels Pablo Micallef: +32 (0)470 216 745; pablo.micallef@gov.mt Page 5