Advocating for public health at EU level

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• Advocating for public health at EU level
• Anne Hoel and Lara Garrido-Herrero
• European Public Health Alliance
• Moscow, 28th November 2006

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Outline of presentation

• What is EPHA and what do we do? - Anne Hoel
• The Public Health dimension and health
  inequalities Lara Garrido-Herrero

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What is EPHA?

• A network of more than 100 non governmental and
  not-for-profit organisations across Europe
  working on health and health-related issues
• EPHA's mission is to promote and protect the
  health of all people living in Europe and
  increase the participation of citizens in
  health-related policy making at European level.

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What does EPHA stand for?

• Health protection as a goal in all EU
  policy-making - eg health impact assessments for
  all proposed legislation
• Ensuring that EU internal policies (eg
  competition, environment, transport, energy,
  agriculture, industry) and external policies (eg
  trade, development, external aid) actually
  contribute towards better health.
• Involvement of citizens in decision-making
  related to their own health.
• Addressing health inequalities.
• Equal access to good quality healthcare for all
  people living in Europe.

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What does EPHA do (1/2)

• Monitor - what is happening in the EU and global
  institutions? What are the new policy trends,
  legal proposals, international treaties?
• Analyse - what could this mean for your member
  organisations or target group? What actions are
  needed - passive monitoring or active lobbying?
• Inform - explain the background of the issue,
  basic elements of the proposal, the time-frame
  for action
• Raise awareness - ensure that your members
  understand the implications for them and their
  issues of this policy or legislation
• Engage - encourage debate, exchange of ideas,
  brainstorm on what should be the goals of
  lobbying

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What does EPHA do? (2/2)

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Why an European Alliance?

• Recognition, credibility
• Influence
• Independence
• Cost reduction
• Expertise
• Mutual learning
• Creation of consensus
• Learn how to negotiate

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Why an Alliance on Public Health?

• Public Health promotes health and well being
• Public Health seeks to influence the determinants
  of health and communicating health goals
• It is a system wide, holistic approach to health
  protection, improvement and development 'Health
  in all policies'
• There is an emphasis on combating inequalities
  and promoting social justice

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Health inequalities

• International inequalities
• Socio-economic inequalities within countries
• Gender, ethnic, etc. differences in health within
  countries

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A modern concept of public health

• Action by society to protect and promote the
  health of everyone
• Involves science, evidence, art, politics... and
  imagination
• Requires partnerships and the involvement of the
  population
• Requires knowledge, skills, motivation and
  commitment
• Requires leadership and co-operation, across
  policy areas and across borders

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European Public Health Alliance

• 39-41 Rue dArlon
• B-1000 Brussels
• Belgium
• Tel [phone]
• Fax [phone]
• anne_at_epha.org lara_at_epha.org
• www.epha.org