4 REDUCING HEALTH INEQUALITIES
(31048)
14848/09
COM(09) 567
+ ADDs 1-2
| Commission Communication on Solidarity in health: reducing health inequalities
in the EU
Commission staff working documents: impact assessment and summary of
assessment
|
| Legal base |
— |
| Document originated | 20 October 2009
|
| Deposited in Parliament |
28 October 2009 |
| Department | Health |
| Basis of consideration |
EM of 11 November 2009 |
| Previous Committee Report |
None |
| To be discussed in Council
| No date set |
| Committee's assessment | Politically important
|
| Committee's decision | Not cleared; Opinion of Health Committee requested
|
Background
4.1 Article 2 of the EC Treaty says that social cohesion
and raising the quality of life are part of the task of the European
Community.
4.2 Article 152 EC provides that a high level of
human health protection must be ensured in all Community policies
and activities. Community action should complement national policies
and be directed to improving public health and preventing illness.
Community action should respect the responsibilities of Member
States for the organisation of health services and medical care.
4.3 Article 158 EC requires the Community to take
action to strengthen social cohesion and reduce disparities between
the regions.
4.4 One of the objectives of the European Public
Health Programme for 2003-13 is to contribute to tackling inequalities
in health.
4.5 In June 2008, the European Council emphasised
the importance of closing the differences in life expectancy between
and within Member States.[5]
4.6 In its Communication on a renewed social agenda
for 21st century Europe, the Commission said that it
would issue a Communication on health inequalities during 2009.[6]
The Document
4.7 The Communication quotes statistics which illustrate
the health inequalities in the EU. For example, there is a five-fold
difference between Member States in infant mortality; a 14 year
gap in life expectancy at birth for men; and an eight year gap
for women. Many factors affect health. They include living conditions,
education, occupation, income, life-style, the availability and
cost of health care, sanitation and culture.
4.8 The Commission stresses that health inequalities
are not inevitable. It cites action the Community has already
taken to try to help reduce inequalities through, for example,
the Council Recommendation on cancer screening, the EC Framework
Programmes on R&D and the Structural Programmes.
4.9 The Commission says that further EU action is
needed because of the increasing evidence of the size and pervasiveness
of health inequalities. Recognising that Member States have the
principal responsibility for health policy, the Commission has
issued this Communication to launch a debate about what more the
EU might do to support Member States' efforts.
4.10 In the Commission's view, action is needed to:
- promote an equitable distribution of good health
as part of overall social and economic development;
- improve the data on health inequalities and the
mechanisms for measuring, monitoring, evaluating and reporting
on inequalities (for example, develop a common set of indicators;
and disseminate best practice and the results of relevant research);
- build a commitment across society to reduce health
inequalities (for example, publicise health inequalities and encourage
cooperation between public bodies, employers, trades unions, and
civil society to tackle them);
- meet the needs of vulnerable groups such as the
Roma, people with disabilities and children living in poverty;
and
- develop the contribution of EU policies to the
reduction of inequalities (for example, consider how Member States
might make better use of EC cohesion policy, the Structural Funds
and other existing EC policies programmes).
The Commission intends to issue a progress report
on health inequalities in 2012.
The Government's view
4.11 In her Explanatory Memorandum of 11 November
2009, the Minister of State for Public Health at the Department
of Health (Gillian Merron) tells us that the UK is an international
leader in policies to tackle health inequalities. The Communication
does not have significant policy implications for the UK but it
"will help other [Member States] develop a more systematic
approach to tackling health inequalities. The UK will benefit
from the knowledge gained in developing the agenda across the
EU." [7]
4.12 The Minister summarises the Government's strategy
for dealing with health inequalities in England and the strategies
of the devolved administrations for Scotland, Wales and Northern
Ireland. The proposals in the Commission's Communication are in
line with current policies and actions in the UK; they would not
require additional expenditure; and they are not binding.
Conclusion
4.13 In February, the Health Committee published
the report of its inquiry into health inequalities.[8]
We are, therefore, drawing the Commission's Communication to the
Health Committee's attention and, in the exercise of the power
given to us by Standing Order No. 143, we ask the Committee to
give us its Opinion on the document.[9]
Meanwhile, we shall keep the Communication under scrutiny.
5 Brussels European Council 19-20 June 2008, Presidency
Conclusions, paragraph 50. Back
6
(29818) 11517/08: see HC 16-xxviii (2007-08), chapter 8 (22 July
2008). Back
7
Minister's Explanatory Memorandum, page 7, paragraph 4. Back
8
HC 281-i (2008-09), 28 February 2008. Back
9
S.O. No. 143, paragraph 11. Back
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