Europejska Unia Zdrowotna
European Health Union

Author(s): Ida Musiałkowska
Subject(s): Supranational / Global Economy, Health and medicine and law, EU-Accession / EU-DEvelopment, EU-Legislation
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Ekonomicznego w Poznaniu
Keywords: Europejska Unia Zdrowotna;polityka zdrowotna;COVID-19;europejski plan walki z rakiem;
Summary/Abstract: Health is an area in which the European Union has so far had little competence, enshrined in the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. For many years, it has provided financial and coordinating support for some of the activities in this area. Most of the activities and solutions were thus carried out at Member State level. However, with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, interest in public health and its prevention increased. The purpose of this chapter is to identify and characterise the health-related instruments that have been put in place under the current financial perspective 2021–2027 and as the post-pandemic reaction instruments, the application of which can improve both the response to future pandemic or epidemiological threats and access to health care for EU citizens. The latter is particularly relevant, given the key issues of quality of life and citizens wellbeing, the potential to improve health and save lives of the EU population. The following analytical methods were used: critical assessment of literature, reports, communications, law, and statistical data as well as participatory observation in forums of policy makers and health policy experts. The main finding is that a new “body”, namely the European Health Union (EHU) was created in reaction to the needs of citizens and businesses operating in the area of health expressed during the pandemic. It was characterised in the course of the paper, including its components related to cancer, mental health and reforms comprising pharmaceutical law and strategy. Instruments supporting each ofthe EHU components were also identified showing the complexity and diversity of many of them, as well as bigger involvement of the EU in the area of health compared to the previous years. Avenues for further research were also pointed out in the concluding part of the chapter.

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