Conference "Global Health - Together we can make it happen"

Brussels

Brussels, 10-11 June 2010

In the last decade, health policy has gained a prominent position internationally and health aid has quadrupled amounting to over 16 billion euros. There are good stories to tell and concrete achievements on which to build. Yet, the lack of progress on health MDGs in the poorest countries and the growing challenges of globalization call for a strong EU global health vision, voice and action. In its recently adopted Communication on Global Health the Commission proposed areas for action, based on EU principles of solidarity, towards equitable and universal coverage of quality health services. The Commission highlighted the main challenges that the EU needs to address: leadership, universal coverage, coherence of EU policies and knowledge. This new policy framework aims to be a turning point in promoting the right to health and better addressing global health challenges.

European Commissioner for Development, Andris Piebalgs, European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy, John Dalli and European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science Máire Geoghegan-Quinn said: "Health is a right for all, in Europe and beyond. But it is a right that too many people still cannot enjoy today. The Millennium Development Goals related to health, on child mortality, maternal mortality and HIV/AIDS are among those most off track. We cannot accept this. As the main partner of developing countries, the EU has a responsibility to play a leading role in addressing global health challenges. Working with the world's poorest countries – for example through research partnerships- to improve access to new knowledge and to lifesaving treatments is a moral obligation and also in our own interests: communicable diseases, for example, do not stop at borders."

Closing speech by Commissioner Dalli

Background documents

• The EU Role in Global Health
• Global Health – responding to the challenges of globalisation
• European Research and knowledge for global health
• Contributing to universal coverage of health services through development policy
• Nobel Forum Seminar: The European Union as a global health actor
• Better Health Care for Europe and Beyond
• EU Policy Papers on Global Health and Universal Healthcare Coverage
• Council Conclusions on the EU Role in Global Health
• Improving Access to Medicines and Effective Health Services through Innovation and Technology Transfer

11 June - Plenary session

• Session A : Global Health for All
• Session B : Coherence
• Session C : Innovation and Access
• Session D : Health as a Human Right
• Session E : Governance
• Session F : Research