Inside EU Health

Inside EU Health: Growing obesity strains healthcare systems; DARWIN EU; HPV awareness

Growing obesity strains healthcare systems; DARWIN EU ready to move to next stage; HPV awareness day

Obesity

EU health chief warns obesity is a growing threat to Europe’s healthcare systems

Rising obesity rates pose growing challenge to sustainability of Europe's healthcare system

Inside EU Health

Inside EU Health: Pharmacists ‘on the front lines’ of Europe’s medicine shortages; untreated menopause's cost on productivity; long term impact of Long COVID

Pharmacists ‘on the front lines’ of Europe’s medicine shortages; untreated menopause has a €17 billion cost on productivity; Study highlights reduced ability to work among people with Long COVID

Medicine shortages

Pharmacists ‘on the front lines’ of Europe’s medicine shortages

Stakeholders agree that tackling medicine shortages requires long-term reforms to procurement and EU co-ordination, not just a crisis response

Inside EU Health

Inside EU Health: World Hearing Day; combined COVID-19 influenza vaccine; Denmark eliminates mother-to-child transmission of HIV

World Hearing Day: Does Europe need a hearing health strategy; EMA approves 12 medicines including Moderna’s combined COVID-19 and influenza vaccine; Denmark eliminates mother-to-child transmission of HIV

European Medicines Agency

EMA approves 12 medicines including combined COVID-19 and influenza vaccine

New combined vaccine could simplify annual vaccine updates

World Hearing Day

World Hearing Day: Does Europe need a hearing health strategy?

MEPs are alerted to Europe’s third-largest cause of disability: hearing loss

Inside EU Health

Inside EU Health: ESF+ for abortion access; pharma reforms could reduce costs by 20-25%; pharma 29% of exports to US; ECCE receives lukewarm welcome

Commission open ESF+ pathway for abortion access; EU’s Health Package is Europe’s answer to Trump’s drug pricing policy, says Várhelyi; medical and pharmaceutical products were the leading export category to US in 2025; ECCE idea receives lukewarm welcome

Safe abortion

'My Voice, My Choice': Commission opens ESF+ pathway for abortion access

The Commission says the European Social Fund can be used to support abortion access

Cypriot presidency

EU’s Health Package is Europe’s answer to Trump’s drug pricing policy, says Várhelyi

Várhelyi estimated reforms could lower business costs by 20-25 percent - potentially offsetting the impact of US tariffs and "MFN" pricing.

Inside EU Health

Inside EU Health: European Centre of Clinical Excellence for Pharmaceuticals; Insta battle over ‘My Voice, My Choice’; Health Policy Leader Index

European Centre of Clinical Excellence for Pharmaceuticals; Instagram battle over ‘My Voice, My Choice’; Health Policy Index highlights ten MEPs; ECDC propose four new reference laboratories

Health Policy Leaders Index

Health Policy Index highlights ten MEPs and asks what does leadership mean in 2026

Parliamentarians' set out their top priorities for 2026 amid growing uncertainty and geopolitical disruption

Inside EU Health

Inside EU Health: Ombudsman opens inquiry on NGO grants, Exposome Alliance launched, SANT debate budget, clinical trials, alarm over nicotine use

Ombudswoman inquiry over scrapped health grants; new Exposome Alliance; MEPs call for safeguards for health funding; Europe urged to scale up clinical trials; Nordics for action on nicotine use

Civil Society

Ombudswoman investigates Commission over scrapped health NGO grants

The European Ombudswoman has launched an inquiry into the Commission’s handling of cancelled EU4Health operating grants after complaints from health NGOs

Inside EU Health

Inside EU Health: Tariff chaos, court setback on Urban Wastewater for pharma; EMA starts its search for a new Executive Director

‘Tariff chaos’ but pharmaceuticals may stay outside the fray; industry groups continue to fight Wastewater Treatment Directive despite court setback; EMA starts its search for a new Executive Director

Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive

Industry groups continue to fight Wastewater Treatment Directive despite court setback

EFPIA has lost their legal battle, but hope that national cases will address their concerns

EU/US Trade

‘Tariff chaos’ but pharmaceuticals may stay outside the fray

US tariff reset sparks trade uncertainty, following court ruling might spare pharmaceuticals - for the time being

Inside EU Health

Inside EU Health: EFPIA compares 10 biopharma strategies; EU cancer strategy scrutinised; agencies reassure on infant formula

EFPIA publishes a comparative analysis of the strategies of 10 countries; ECA casts doubt on EU cancer strategy’s targets and funding; agencies says infant formula is a low risk following recall

Cancer

Audit exposes weak monitoring and funding doubts in EU cancer strategy

An audit by the European Court of Auditors warns that Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan lacks clear targets, monitoring mechanisms and long-term funding certainty

Infant formula

EU agencies consider risk of exposure low, as recall of infant formula continues

EU agencies consider risk from contaminated infant formula be to low as recall continues

Inside EU Health

Inside EU Health: WHO/Europe proposal to help nursing crisis; antimicrobial resistance in the food chain; Apply AI invitation to join screening network and imaging pilot

WHO/Europe proposes eight steps to help fix Europe’s nursing crisis; persistent antimicrobial resistance in the food chain; Apply AI invitation to join screening network; EU launches €9 million call for AI-powered medical imaging pilots

Healthcare workforce

Shortages and safety: WHO/Europe proposes eight steps to help fix Europe’s nursing crisis

Unsafe nurse staffing levels are endangering patients and driving burnout, WHO/Europe proposes eight corrective actions to stabilise and strengthen Europe’s nursing workforce

AMR

Persistent antimicrobial resistance in the food chain underlines need for a ‘One Health’ approach

Antimicrobial resistance in common foodborne bacteria poses a threat to Europe’s public health, despite pockets of progress

Inside EU Health

Inside EU Health: Europe invests in 10-year preparedness research plan; Biotech Act I rapporteurs; EU and Canada health agencies joint plan; HTA report

Europe invests €240 million ten-year pandemic preparedness research; Biotech Act I rapporteurs confirmed; EU and Canada health agencies deepen ties; HTA annual report on first year of implementation

Preparedness

Europe invests €240 million in ten-year pandemic preparedness research

The European Commission and national partners launch a €240 million decade-long research alliance to strengthen preparedness for future pandemics.