Brussels,

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.


European Health Union - The 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


Summary of the EU  contribution to the EU Health Systems:

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1. Legislation:​​​
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  • 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. 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)


3. Research - Innovation - Investments (a)
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  • The Health Programme 2021-2027 provides funding to projects on health promotion, health security and health information
  • The Horizon Europe Research programme supports projects in areas such as biotechnology and medical technologies
  • EU cohesion policy supports investments in health in EU countries and regions
  • The European Fund for Strategic Investments.


4. Improving the EU health systems

  • ​Cross-border healthcare
  • European Reference Networks
  • eHealth : Digital health and care
  • Health technology assessment
  • Health workforce
  • Health systems performance assessment
  • Expert Panel on effective ways of investing in health


(a) There is a new 2021 Executive Agency HaDEA (EU Agency for Health and Digital) in charge of implementing the Health programs. It were proposed by the European Commission and formally decided by the European Parliament with the EU Council, which have the power to modify contents and budgets.