3.3 A NEW GLOBAL HEALTH ORDER
S ince 2020, we have been confronted with an towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. It also highlighted an undeniable truth: global pandemics do not respect borders and require global solidarity and decisive action both for preparedness and response. In the European Union, we have used the opportunity of the pandemic to redefine the way health policy is done by putting in place the pillars of a strong European Health Union, for the benefit of our citizens. Each of the pillars of our Health Union – the ambitious Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, the Pharmaceutical Strategy, the world-pioneering European Health Data unprecedented global pandemic that has changed the world as we know it and set back progress Space, as well as our comprehensive approach to mental health – together with a stronger EU health security framework, will make a lasting difference in rebuilding and strengthening our healthcare systems and ensure that the EU is better prepared to face health threats in the future. Throughout the pandemic, the EU did not shy away from its responsibilities for global solidarity. Through our Vaccines Strategy, we ensured equal deliveries of lifesaving Covid-19 vaccines to all 27 member states at the same time. The EU also became the world’s pharmacy during this time, exporting billions of doses all over the world and playing a leading role in the COVAX mechanism to ensure equitable access to vaccines for citizens worldwide. From the outset, the EU has championed a reform of the global health architecture and called for a comprehensive pandemic agreement to strengthen global preparedness. A NEW STRATEGY We presented a new EU Global Health Strategy to work together with our international partners towards a stronger health architecture for all. This is our agenda of global action for the next 10 years, premised on the knowledge that we By Stella Kyriakides, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety
The coming year is a crucial one for global health as the nature of the health threats we face evolve. But also evolving are the tools we have to tackle them – and the EU is set to exploit new possibilities and implement solutions on a global scale From crisis to partnership
can only achieve global health goals by continuing the strong spirit of solidarity and cooperation built up during the pandemic. This strategy has two main goals: regain the ground we have lost on achieving our universal health targets and reinforce health systems and preparedness worldwide. architecture with a strong, effective and accountable World Health Organization at its core. Supported by G7 and G20 discussions, this year’s UN General Assembly High Level Meetings provide the political impetus needed to achieve universal health coverage, fight tuberculosis, and advance towards an ambitious and legally binding pandemic agreement in May 2024. We, as a global community, share the responsibility to emerge stronger The coming year is crucial to strengthen the global health
and wiser from the Covid-19 pandemic and make the world safer. Our call for a comprehensive pandemic agreement has been supported by ambitious proposals at the negotiating table to achieve more equitable and effective pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, empower low- and middle-income partners, and support their health sovereignty. A concrete proposal concerns worldwide equity in access to essential medical countermeasures. Our proposals aim to support our partners to improve their research and manufacturing capabilities through technology transfer and, in addition, measures to ensure prices better match countries’ resources. Expanded production across the world, together with greater affordability and availability for those most in need,
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Health: A Political Choice – From Fragmentation to Integration
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