A meeting of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO) will be held in Luxembourg on 9 and 10 June. On the second day of the conference, 10 June, EU Health Ministers will convene at a meeting chaired by the Slovenian Minister of Health, Ms Zofija Mazej Kukovič. In the morning, the Ministers will discuss reducing the burden of cancer, antimicrobial resistance and implementation of the EU Health Strategy.
After the discussion on reducing the burden of cancer, a Slovenian Presidency priority, the Ministers are expected to adopt Council conclusions noting the need for a comprehensive strategy covering the key areas of prevention, early detection, treatment, rehabilitation, palliative care and research in order to manage cancer successfully.
Council conclusions are expected on antimicrobial resistance, an area in which there is a pronounced need for inter-sectoral cooperation in the further implementation of recommendations on the rational use of antibiotics in human medicine.
The Council is also expected to adopt conclusions on implementing the EU Health Strategy presented by the European Commission in October last year. The key to achieving strategy goals and resolving other important strategic issues, however, is intensified and more structured cooperation between the Council and the Commission. The Ministers are therefore expected, in their conclusions, to confirm a reworking of the mandate of the high-level group on healthcare. With adequate high-level representation of the Member States and the European Commission, this body would enable discussions on strategic matters related to health and healthcare systems, determine priority tasks, objectives and necessary actions at EU level and monitor their implementation.
The Ministers are expected to adopt conclusions on information to patients on medicinal products, emphasising the need to make a distinction between information and advertising.
The afternoon session of the Council meeting will see the presentation of a progress report on the discussions on the proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and Council on novel foods aimed at ensuring food safety, protection of public health and consumers’ interests as well as smooth functioning of the single market. The European Commission will provide information on the proposal for an EU legislative framework relating to the enforcement of patients’ rights in cross-border healthcare. The Slovenian Minister of Health, Ms Zofija Mazej Kukovič, will report on the different matters discussed during the Slovenian EU Council Presidency.
