Ministers from PES member parties across Europe met in Brussels in advance of the EU EPSCO-Health Council meeting, on the invitation of Jevgeni Ossinovski, chair of the PES network and Estonian minister of labour and health.
Mr Ossinovski said:
“We value highly the health and welfare of people living in the EU. It is a continuous challenge for the Member States to ensure that the health systems are accessible, effective and sustainable. That embodies also the responsibility to offer patients equitable access to safe, effective and affordable medicinal products in a sustainable manner.
“In order to achieve this objective, we believe that improving coordination and cooperation of pharmaceutical policy at EU level is a key factor.”
Ministers continued their ongoing work on the draft joint declaration For a Progressive Health Agenda, which outlines PES public health priorities. The declaration is expected to be adopted soon.
They also had a further exchange of views on the cross-border aspects of alcohol policy.
In attendance at the meeting were:
- Jevgeni Ossinovski, Chair of PES Network, Minister of Health and Labour, Estonia
- Vytenis Andriukaitis, Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, European Commission
- Christopher Fearne, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Health, Malta
- Adalberto Campos Fernandes, Minister of Health, Portugal
- Florian Dorel Bodog, Minister of Health, Romania