European Parliament criticised over use of COVID-19 disposable masks
02 Apr Health

European Parliament criticised over use of COVID-19 disposable masks

NGO attacks Parliament for promoting use of ‘untraceable, disposable, toxic and unrecyclable’ single-use masks.
by Martin Banks
Mental health is everybody’s business
13 Apr Health
Mental health is everybody’s business
EU regulator confirms possible link between blood clots and AstraZeneca vaccine in ‘very rare’ cases
07 Apr Health
EU regulator confirms possible link between blood clots and AstraZeneca vaccine in ‘very rare’ cases
World Health Organization criticises EU’s ‘unacceptably slow’ vaccine rollout
01 Apr Health
World Health Organization criticises EU’s ‘unacceptably slow’ vaccine rollout
World Cancer Day: The fight against cancer is both a national and EU-level priority
04 Feb Health
World Cancer Day: The fight against cancer is both a national and EU-level priority
Every EU citizen should have the right to high-quality cancer diagnosis, care and treatment, irrespective of which country they come from, says senior Slovenian MEP Tanja Fajon.
World Cancer Day: Europe’s ‘Beating Cancer Plan’ can change the future of millions of families, argues Dolors Montserrat
04 Feb Health
World Cancer Day: Europe’s ‘Beating Cancer Plan’ can change the future of millions of families, argues Dolors Montserrat
The current pandemic should not make policymakers lose sight of the fight against cancer, says Spanish MEP.
World Cancer Day: The lasting impacts of the pandemic on cancer services will linger far beyond the COVID-19 vaccination rollout, warns Barry Andrews
04 Feb Health
World Cancer Day: The lasting impacts of the pandemic on cancer services will linger far beyond the COVID-19 vaccination rollout, warns Barry Andrews
How many cancer patients have fallen through the cracks undiagnosed, or have suffered late diagnosis out of fear of COVID, asks Irish MEP.
Commission says 12 million people in Europe so far vaccinated against Coronavirus
03 Feb Health
Commission says 12 million people in Europe so far vaccinated against Coronavirus
The latest figure, given to this site by the Commission late on Tuesday, covers all the 27 Member States in the EU, with an overall population of 450 million.
The pharmaceutical industry can be the catalyst for a sustainable and resilient healthcare system in Greece Thought Leader
03 Feb Health
The pharmaceutical industry can be the catalyst for a sustainable and resilient healthcare system in Greece
SFEE and its member companies are committed to ensuring the sustainability of our healthcare systems by breaking barriers and silos and working together with policymakers to deliver outcomes to patients, society and the national economy, writes Olympios Papadimitriou.
Von der Leyen should consider resigning over vaccine rollout ‘shambles’, says Gunnar Beck
02 Feb Health
Von der Leyen should consider resigning over vaccine rollout ‘shambles’, says Gunnar Beck
The German Identity and Democracy Group MEP’s comments come with pressure mounting on the Commission President over what is widely seen as a particularly slow response to the vaccination programme.
Commission says all pharma companies except AstraZeneca delivered correct number of vaccine doses
01 Feb Health
Commission says all pharma companies except AstraZeneca delivered correct number of vaccine doses
The executive is still embroiled in a bitter row with AstraZeneca over claims that the Anglo-Swedish company has not fulfilled the terms of its contract with the EU by drastically cutting the number of doses it said it would supply.
Issue 529 | 1 February 2021
29 Jan Health
Issue 529 | 1 February 2021
Gracing the cover this issue is Loucas Fourlas, Chair of the MEPs Against Cancer (MAC) Interest Group. The Cypriot EPP deputy tells Jon Benton and Ana Gallego what drives him in his fight against cancer, his campaign to help those affected and of his own personal tragedy.
AstraZeneca COVID vaccine contract to be made public
29 Jan Health
AstraZeneca COVID vaccine contract to be made public
It emerged on Friday that the pharmaceutical company has agreed to publish the deal signed with the European Commission.
Vaping is the gateway out of smoking PM+
29 Jan Health
Vaping is the gateway out of smoking
Recent trends framing e-cigarettes as a gateway to smoking do not stand up to scrutiny, write the Consumer Choice Center’s Maria Chaplia and World Vapers’ Alliance’s Michael Landl.
Commission insists ‘we can and will’ obtain doses of AstraZeneca Coronavirus vaccine
28 Jan Health
Commission insists ‘we can and will’ obtain doses of AstraZeneca Coronavirus vaccine
This is despite the Anglo-Swedish company telling the EU to expect a huge reduction - up to 60 percent - of the doses originally agreed between the two sides.
EU cannot ‘fast track’ Coronavirus vaccine authorisation like UK, admits senior EU official
28 Jan Health
EU cannot ‘fast track’ Coronavirus vaccine authorisation like UK, admits senior EU official
Despite a high death toll, the UK has been widely applauded for rolling out vaccines to millions of Britons while the vast majority of Europeans are still waiting for their first jab.
MEPs in talks on holding public hearing with vaccine producers
27 Jan Health
MEPs in talks on holding public hearing with vaccine producers
Call from European Parliament’s Renew Europe Group follows concerns over vaccine availability and deployment.
EU health commissioner says slashing Coronavirus vaccine supplies to EU is ‘not acceptable’
26 Jan Health
EU health commissioner says slashing Coronavirus vaccine supplies to EU is ‘not acceptable’
AstraZeneca was expected to deliver around 80 million doses to the 27 Member States by the end of March, but now says it will cut deliveries of the Oxford COVID-19 vaccine to the EU by 60 percent in the first quarter of the year.
Campaign groups take aim at Commission’s Coronavirus vaccine strategy
25 Jan Health
Campaign groups take aim at Commission’s Coronavirus vaccine strategy
This comes after the European Ombudsman Emily O’Reilly launched an investigation into what campaigners call the Commission’s “secrecy” around its COVID-19 vaccine contracts with pharmaceutical companies.
EU leaders agree to keep Europe’s borders open
22 Jan Health
EU leaders agree to keep Europe’s borders open
However, with fresh fears of new strains of the coronavirus, they have warned again non-essential travel.
MEPS call on EU to help ‘struggling’ Western Balkan countries cope with COVID-19 pandemic
21 Jan Health
MEPS call on EU to help ‘struggling’ Western Balkan countries cope with COVID-19 pandemic
Demand comes as EU leaders hold virtual summit on ongoing health crisis.
MEPs debate EU’s COVID-19 vaccine strategy
20 Jan Health
MEPs debate EU’s COVID-19 vaccine strategy
EU must stay unified and ensure equal access to vaccines, says Socialist Group leader Iratxe Garcia.
MEPs throw weight behind growing calls for an EU-wide vaccination certificate
19 Jan Health
MEPs throw weight behind growing calls for an EU-wide vaccination certificate
The idea, first mooted by Greece, is due to be debated by EU leaders at a special virtual summit to discuss the pandemic on Thursday 21 January.
Aboca: an example of European Green Deal thinking applied to health PM+
19 Jan Health
Aboca: an example of European Green Deal thinking applied to health
With the “Green Deal”, Europe puts sustainability at the heart of its scientific, cultural and economic development. This is not just an abstract idea, but a concrete opportunity to promote a new economic and social system that reverses the effects of the current extractive model of development, a model which is reliant on the destruction of environmental resources and the use of substances that are not part of the ecosystem. The Green Deal is a vital opportunity - the only route available - which should also be applied in the health and therapy sector. It is a vision that Aboca has been pursuing ever since it was founded.
COVID-19 pandemic has tested ‘relatively limited’ health powers of the EU, says report
18 Jan Health
COVID-19 pandemic has tested ‘relatively limited’ health powers of the EU, says report
A new report by the European Court of Auditors (ECA) highlights “certain challenges” faced by the EU and its Member States since the outbreak of the health crisis last March.
EU chief Coronavirus vaccine coordinator allays concerns over perceived slow rollout
13 Jan Health
EU chief Coronavirus vaccine coordinator allays concerns over perceived slow rollout
Sandra Gallina, who is leading the vaccine negotiations for the EU, told MEPs, “we have the vaccines, they are coming.”
MEP takes aim at UK’s Coronavirus vaccination policy; says it will ‘come at a price’
12 Jan Health
MEP takes aim at UK’s Coronavirus vaccination policy; says it will ‘come at a price’
The UK is seen as having stolen a march on the rest of Europe by vaccinating tens of thousands of citizens after approving two types of vaccine.
Commission must provide transparency on talks with vaccine manufacturers
11 Jan Health
Commission must provide transparency on talks with vaccine manufacturers
European Parliament Vice-President Nicola Beer says the executive must give MEPs “precise answers” to avoid damage to the reputation of the EU and its institutions.