Inside EU Health: Organ transplantation; wastewater; cross-border health; childhood cancer; next WHO DG
Organ transplant technology; Advocate General questions the basis of EU wastewater rules; EU solidarity fund to improve access to cross-border healthcare; MEPs pressed to close gaps in childhood cancer treatment; Hans Kluge next WHO DG?
A small change to Vital Signs as we head into the autumn. After talking to a number of readers about how they use the newsletter - and what they actually want from it - I’m moving from the Monday-to-Thursday emails to a weekly edition, landing on Fridays. Vital Signs will still publish articles throughout the week; the Friday newsletter will bring things together in one useful, manageable read.
It’s also part of a wider ambition for Vital Signs to grow and make what we do more useful, distinctive and valuable to readers. More on that soon... In the meantime, I’d be interested to know what works for you. Is Friday a good day to receive a weekly update, or is there another day or time that suits you? Let me know: catherine@vitalsigns.news
MEPs seek safeguards on new organ-processing technologies
MEPs broadly backed proposed legislative changes permitting new organ-processing technologies that could save thousands of lives, but said any change must ensure innovation does not undermine the altruistic and non-commercial nature of organ donation.
Catherine Feore
Advocate General questions the basis of EU wastewater rules
Advocate General Juliane Kokott has published her opinion calling on the EU’s top court to invalidate provisions in the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive requiring pharmaceutical and cosmetics companies to fund at least 80% of the cost of removing micropollutants from urban wastewater.
“Today’s opinion strengthens the case for stopping the clock on this Directive to avoid consequences for the availability of medicines for patients,” said Director General of Medicines for Europe, Adrian van den Hoven. “The Commission should use this opportunity to properly review the EPR scheme before companies are forced to make decisions that could affect medicine supply or health security.”
Catherine Feore
MEPs push for EU solidarity fund to improve access to cross-border healthcare
MEPs are pushing for an EU solidarity mechanism to help patients pay for treatment abroad, arguing that financial barriers are preventing Europeans from exercising rights they have had on paper for more than a decade.
Catherine Feore
MEPs pressed to close gaps in childhood cancer treatment
Parents, medical experts and MEPs called for stronger EU action to overcome the economic and regulatory barriers holding back new treatments for childhood cancer during an exchange in the European Parliament’s public health committee.
Catherine Feore
Belgium nominates Hans Kluge as WHO Director General
The Belgian federal government has nominated Hans Kluge for the position of Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO).
Catherine Feore