Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (Health), 9 December 2022 - Hoofdinhoud
Main results
A new approach to cancer screening
The Council adopted a new recommendation on cancer screening to bring down the mortality of cancer and cut the incidence of invasive cancers. Cancer is a major disease and cause of death throughout Europe. In 2020, an estimated 2.7 million people in the EU were diagnosed with cancer.
The new recommendation contains updated methodologies and tests for breast, cervical and colorectal cancer screening and introduces organised cancer screening programmes for lung, prostate and, in certain circumstances, gastric cancer.
Screening makes it possible to detect cancers at an early stage, or possibly even before they become invasive. Thanks to early testing, some lesions can then be treated more effectively, with a greater chance that patients can be cured.
Cancer screening is an essential tool in the fight against cancer. Today, European health ministers decided to make this tool even stronger.
Vlastimil Válek, Czech deputy prime minister and minister of health
Vaccination: COVID-19 vaccine procurement and European cooperation
Ministers exchanged views on COVID-19 vaccine procurement. At the current stage of the pandemic, a significant number of member states are dealing with an oversupply of vaccines, raising multiple budgetary and logistical questions. Many ministers evoked the success of the joint purchase of COVID-19 vaccines and how the common vaccination strategy saved lives.
Ministers also discussed future steps in view of a possible adaptation of the existing contracts. Several ministers welcomed the Commission's announcement to convene a meeting at political level of the vaccine steering board. It was also pointed out that one should avoid producing vaccines that could only be used over a certain period of time due to a limited shelf life.
The Council also approved Council conclusions on vaccination as one of the most effective tools for preventing disease and improving public health. They highlight that member states could benefit from an even more coordinated EU approach on vaccination to prevent and limit the spread of epidemics and vaccine-preventable diseases. The conclusions focus on two areas of action: combatting vaccine hesitancy and preparing for upcoming challenges through EU cooperation.
Vaccination is an effective means against infectious diseases. Strong cooperation among EU member states on vaccination got us through the COVID pandemic and will continue to be the right approach in the future.
Vlastimil Válek, Czech deputy prime minister and minister of health
Update on ongoing legislative files
The presidency informed about the state of play of two draft laws that are currently being examined by member states:
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-a proposal for a European Health Data Space aims to make it easier for patients to have access to their health data in electronic form and to share this data with health professionals within the EU
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-a draft regulation on standards of quality and safety for substances of human origin deals - among others things - with facilitating cross-border circulation of such critical substances as blood, tissues and cells and to boost the protection from donors, recipients and offspring
Other business
The Commission provided information on the revision of the pharmaceutical legislation, on the EU Global Health Strategy, on the State of Health Preparedness Report and on the implementation of the medical device regulation.
The presidency and the Commission informed ministers on the negotiations for an international agreement on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response as well as complementary amendments to the International Health Regulations.
The German delegation presented an information point on the Clinical Trials Information System. The Czech presidency gave information on conferences organised during its term and the upcoming Swedish presidency presented its work programme.
Meeting information
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-Meeting n°3919-1
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-Brussels
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-9 December 2022
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-09:30