Launch of the MEP Interest Group on Health Inequalities, Prevention and Risk Factors
Launch of the MEP Interest Group on Health Inequalities, Prevention and Risk Factors
Public health champions gathered on Tuesday, 18 February, to discuss how to keep the focus on health promotion and disease prevention during this EU mandate. This marked the official launch of the Interest Group on Health Inequalities, Prevention and Risk Factors. The event was well attended by Members of the European Parliament (MEP), representatives from Member States, including the Joint Action Prevent NCDs, the World Health Organization, and civil society.
The interest group is led by a dedicated team of MEP Co-Chairs:
• Vytenis Andriukaitis (S&D)
• Manuela Ripa (EPP)
• Vlad Voiculescu (Renew)
• Ignazio Marino (Greens/EFA)
• Aurelijus Veryga (ECR)
• Ondřej Dostál (Non-attached)
Non-communicable diseases cause 80% of deaths in the EU[1] and take up to 10% of the GDP spent on healthcare, yet only 3% of health budgets go to prevention, even though prevention could reduce the burden by up to 70%[2]. Health inequalities continue to affect vulnerable people across Europe. These differences are caused by factors such as income, location, education, and access to healthcare. As a result, preventable illnesses and a lower quality of life often affect disadvantaged groups. Today, civil society is under threat, and evidence-based policymaking faces challenges from aggressive, well-funded lobbying efforts. Four industries—alcohol, fossil fuels, processed food and drinks, and tobacco—drive nearly 25%[3] of deaths in the WHO European Region by promoting harmful products that lead to NCDs, pollution-related illnesses, and workplace hazards. These industries have a strong influence on scientific research and policy, and the lack of strong conflict-of-interest rules delays, weakens, or blocks effective public health regulations, prioritising profit over well-being.
This interest group is determined to act in a clear and decisive way, influencing different policies that affect health, particularly by addressing the main NCDs risk factors. To do this well, the leadership, supported by the secretariat, will work closely with Member States, the Presidencies of the Council of the EU, the European Commission, other MEP intergroups and interest groups, the WHO, the Joint Action Prevent NCDs, civil society organisations, and other key stakeholders.
The draft declaration - now being revised to include ideas from the day - calls for, among others, the following:
- Continued funding for health and especially for prevention and risk factors, including in the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), as well as ongoing funding for NGOs working on public health issues.
- Stronger legislative commitments to include health in all policy areas, such as agriculture and food policy, education, workforce resilience, and security.
- Better conflict-of-interest monitoring to stop the undue influence on health policies.
The revised declaration, which reflects the strong discussions and the priorities of key stakeholders (including alignment with the Draghi report, the Niinistö report and European Commission priorities), will soon be finalised and shared for endorsement. With a focus on short-, mid-, and long-term actions, the group will look for ways to work with other intergroups, interest groups and policy initiatives to ensure our combined efforts have the greatest impact during this EU mandate. The secretariat of this interest group is hosted by Eurocare, EUPHA and EuroHealthNet.
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[1] https://health.ec.europa.eu/non-communicable-diseases/overview_en#:~:text=Non%2Dcommunicable%20diseases%20(NCDs),causes%20of%20avoidable%20premature%20deaths
[2] https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/health-at-a-glance-europe-2024_b3704e14-en.html
[3] https://www.who.int/europe/publications/i/item/9789289061162
