On 10-11 December 2008, the European Commission invited representatives of the broader community of interest in EU health policy to the second EU Open Health Forum in Brussels, under the overall theme of ‘Developing and Implementing Health in the European Union’.

The EU Open Health Forum is a mechanism for the European Commission to get feedback from stakeholders on the implementation of the EU Health Policy and to identify the need for new policy initiatives at EU level. It aims to optimise stakeholders’ contribution to the implementation of EU health strategy. It is run in the context of the Commission’s health strategy 'Together for Health: A Strategic Approach for the EU 2008-2013' adopted on 23 October 2007.

Plenty of good disposition, advice and encouragement were expressed by the representatives of the upcoming Presidencies, the Czech Republic and Sweden, and by the representative of the EU Parliament, Alojz Peterle (EPP-Slovenia): ‘As a consequence of the financial crisis, health should be put higher on the agenda.  Prevention should take a main position in the strategy ... The constant lack of money in health budgets can best be counteracted by investing in prevention.’

There were three working groups - Healthy Lifestyles for Young People, Europe for Patients, and Maximising Health Benefits for Citizens through New Technologies.  Copies of the presentations are available on the Commission website.

The majority of stakeholders present from the complementary medicine (CAM) community took part in the Europe for Patients working group.  They were inspired by Melody Ross from the European umbrella organisation, the Active Citizenship Network, which has celebrated EU Patient’s Rights Day since April 2007. In a lively discussion, well moderated by Anders Olauson, President of the European Patient’s Forum, the European Federation of Patients’ Associations for Anthroposophic Medicine (EFPAM) and the Association of Natural Medicine in Europe (ANME) voiced strong interest in having CAM accessible and integrated in European health care. 

In the subsequent panel discussion, Mme Pradelle from EFPAM – on behalf of a group of CAM associations - including the European Spa Association, presented the host and moderator Robert Madelin, Director General DG Sanco of the European Commission, with a manifesto requesting the Commission to help identify CAM as a top priority for EU health care. Nevertheless conscious of the need to respect the subsidiarity principle, Madelin agreed to future meeting with a CAM delegation in Brussels for a discussion on CAM and European health policy.

Max Daege
President of ECHAMP