Eurobrief 3
March 2008
Contents
BMA Chairman of Council visit to Brussels
Cross border patient mobility
European Commission consultation: Patient safety
European Commission consultation: Counterfeit medicines
MEPs adopt report on organ donation
New framework to fight TB in Europe
Neglect and abuse of the elderly
European Antibiotic Resistance Awareness Day
BMA Chairman of Council visit to Brussels
BMA Chairman of Council, Dr Hamish Meldrum, attended a series of high profile meetings in Brussels earlier this month in order to discuss a number of EU policy issues and to raise the profile of the BMA. Dr Meldrum met with MEPs and key European Commission officials to discuss a number of issues such as information to patients, cross border health care and the recognition of general practice as a specialty. Please contact the Brussels Office to receive a full report of the meetings.
Cross border patient mobility
At a meeting with Robert Madelin, Director General of DG SANCO, BMA representatives questioned the Commission representative on the long awaited proposals on cross border patient mobility. The delayed proposals may be released following an internal Commission meeting on 2 April but are more likely to be delayed until June when they will be released as part of a wider social security package of proposals.
European Commission consultation: Patient safety
The European Commission has launched an online public consultation on patient safety. The results of this will help in the development of the Commission's proposal on general patient safety issues which is planned for the end of 2008 and which will particularly address the issue of healthcare related infections. BMA members are encouraged to complete the online questionnaire before 20 May.
European Commission consultation: Counterfeit medicines
The European Commission has published a consultation on counterfeit medicines in preparation for a legal proposal on the issue which is expected at the end of the year. The consultation document outlines the growing problem of counterfeit medicines in the EU and states that in 2006, there was a 384% increase from the previous year in the number of counterfeit medicines that were seized at EU customs borders. The document details a number of possible amendments to existing EU legislation that could be made in order to tighten regulations including inspections, traceability and enforceability. If you have any comments on the draft, please forward to the Brussels Office by 18 April.
MEPs adopt report on organ donation
The European Parliament’s public health committee has adopted a report on organ donation in response to last year’s European Commission consultation on the issue. The report stresses that organ donation must stay “strictly non-commercial” and should be made voluntarily, ruling out payments between donors and recipients. It also proposes to introduce a European donor card which would complement existing national systems. MEPs noted that those who are not suitable donors should be encouraged to carry a card to that effect in order to facilitate a swift identification of organs. The report will now be debated by the full plenary of MEPs in late April and the European Commission is expected to publish a proposal for a directive setting requirements to assure the quality and safety of organ donation across the EU later this year.
On a related note, the BMA gave evidence to the House of Lords EU Select Committee which is scrutinising the European Commission consultation on organ donation.
New framework to fight TB in Europe
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has developed a framework action plan to fight tuberculosis in the EU. Despite a drop in cases, TB remains a public health threat throughout the EU. The new action plan will be presented to EU health ministers in June 2008 and will complement the work of the WHO Stop TB Strategy.
Neglect and abuse of the elderly
The European Commission held a conference in March on neglect and abuse of elderly people during which it presented the results of a survey on the issue. Almost half (47%) of the people surveyed across the EU considered elder abuse and neglect to be widespread in their country.
The Commission has also produced a discussion paper on the issue which can be read at:
http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/spsi/docs/social_situation/paper_elder_abuse_en.pdf
European Antibiotic Resistance Awareness Day
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control is planning to organise a European Antibiotic Resistance Awareness Day on 18 November 2008. More information will follow later in the year.