Health priorities of the Czech presidency of the EU

The Czech Republic takes over the Presidency of the EU in the first half of 2009. Information about the priorities and programmed of the Czech Presidency can be found at www.eu2009.cz

On 23 January the Czech health minister spoke about the health priorities in a meeting with the European parliament environment committee. Among the priorities, Mr Julínek highlighted the following key areas:

- Cross-border healthcare and financial sustainability of health care;

- Rare diseases

- Antibiotic resistance

- Telemedicine and e-health;

Czech presidency health priorities: http://www.cz2009.eu/en/eu-policies/employment-social-policy-health-andconsumer- affairs-council/health/health-675/

Full text of speech by Tomáš Julínek: http://www.cz2009.eu/en/news-and-documents/speechesinterviews/ speech-of-minister-tomas-julinek--in-the-envi-commmitee-ofthe- european-parliament--7031/