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- Ελληνικά
The Informal Meeting of EU Health Ministers, organised between 27-28 July 2023 by the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU, took place in La Palma. Cyprus was represented at the Ministerial Meeting by the Minister of Health, Dr. Poppy Kanari.
The main topic of discussion of the Health Ministers was digital health, digital technologies and health data as fundamental elements of the European Health Union. The increasingly enhanced role of digital development in health systems through electronic health records (EHRs) and interoperability of health data, both at national and international level, was once again highlighted. The digitisation of health data aims to give citizens direct access and control over their health data and to use it in a secure way to enhance health research and innovation.
In her intervention, Dr Kanari said that Cyprus welcomes the new proposal for an EU regulation on digital health and believes that the European Health Data Space will promote better exchange and access to different types of health data, with consequential effects not only on treatment, health promotion and health promotion, but also on the quality of health services. On digital transformation in the health sector, Cyprus, he noted, is following the European Commission's guidelines. At the national level, the e-Health Law and the establishment of the National e-Health Authority under the Law is an important step towards the implementation of the e-Health Roadmap.
The second major topic of discussion concerned mental health as an integral part of the general health of the population. The Minister of Health said, inter alia, that Cyprus recognises the need for effective prevention and prejudice reduction strategies and programmes that embrace children and young people and involve them as key stakeholders in both the planning and implementation stages. In this direction, the Ministry of Health of Cyprus, making active use of the technical support instrument of the European Commission, is promoting the implementation of a project on mental health of young people, in the framework of the flagship initiative "Youth 2023". It is about strengthening the resilience of mental health and reducing the long-term impact on the mental health of young people in Cyprus. Dr Kanari concluded by stating that "promoting and strengthening mental health care through a multifaceted approach is not only a demonstration of respect for human rights, but also an investment in a society where every citizen is respected and supported".
Finally, during a working lunch, the Health Ministers exchanged views on the promotion of the EU's strategic autonomy in the health sector, with a focus on medicines and medical devices. Dr Kanari reiterated once again that Cyprus supports EU autonomy in this area, which is expected to contribute to equal access to medicines for all EU citizens. She also stressed the need to take measures through enhanced cooperation at national and EU level for improved approaches and strategies on issues related to the supply of medicines and medical devices.
In the margins of the Council, the Minister of Health also held bilateral meetings with her counterparts from other Member States. In particular, a bilateral meeting was held with the Belgian Minister of Health, Frank Vandenbroucke, who informed her about the priorities of the upcoming Belgian Presidency of the EU Council in the first half of 2024. Dr Kanari assured Mr Vandenbroucke that Cyprus will support the efforts of the incoming Belgian Presidency and congratulated him on the issues they have put down among their priorities such as antimicrobial resistance, crisis preparedness in the health sector, addressing the issue of shortage of health workers and completing the discussion on the revision of the pharmaceutical legislation.
A bilateral meeting was also held with the Maltese Minister of Health, Chris Fearne. The two Ministers exchanged views on a variety of issues, notably on common challenges facing the pharmaceutical sector and reaffirmed their intention to continue and strengthen their cooperation on issues of common interest in the health sector. During the meeting, the Maltese Minister of Health confirmed his intention to pay an official visit to Cyprus in November 2023, during which the two Ministers will sign a Cooperation Agreement.
(DK)
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