EU countries have primary responsibility for organising and delivering health services and medical care. EU health policy has the task of integrating national policies and ensuring health protection in all EU policies.


EU health policy objectives


​EU policies and actions in public health aim to:
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  • Protect and improve the health of EU citizens
  • Support the modernisation of health infrastructure
  • Improve the efficiency of Europe's health systems.

​Strategic health issues are discussed by representatives of national authorities and the European Commission in a senior-level working group on public health. EU institutions, countries, regional and local authorities, and other interest groups contribute to the implementation of the EU's health strategy.

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How EU intervenes


The EU gives its contribution by:

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1. Setting-up EU legislation on:​​​
  • Patients' rights in cross-border healthcare
  • Pharmaceuticals and medical devices (pharmacovigilance, falsified medicines, clinical trials)
  • Serious cross border health threats
  • Tobacco
  • Alcohol
  • Organs, blood, tissues and cells.​
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2. Delivering recommendation to EU countries:

  • Prevention of drinking of alcohol by young people (2001)
  • Prevention of health-related harm associated with drug dependence (2003)
  • Cancer screening (2003)
  • Prevention of injury and the promotion of safety (2007)Search for available translations of the preceding link•••
  • Patient safety, including the prevention and control of healthcare associated infections (2009)
  • Action in the field of rare diseases (2009)
  • Smoke-free environments (2009)
  • Seasonal influenza vaccination (2009)


2. Investing in health and activating financial instruments
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It's a new 2021 Executive Agency HaDEA (EU Agency for Health and Digital) in charge of implementing the Health programs. These are proposed by the European Commission and formally decided by the European Parliament and the EU Council, which have the power to modify contents and budgets.