By Emily Bowles, EPF
EPF is campaigning to put what matters to patients at the heart of EU health policy, and make health an issue that gets citizens to cast their votes and make a difference in the European elections to be held this year in May.
In this important pre-election period hopefully leading to positive change for patients and in health policy in the European Union post-2020, as part of its EU elections campaign EPF is calling for intersectoral action for health, and a fundamental change in Europe’s approach to healthcare access, to achieve universal health coverage and significantly improve quality of life and care for patients.
EPF has therefore identified five key ways in which the European elections can lead to positive change in patient communities. All are based on the five priorities detailed in our elections manifesto, which we also used to develop five powerful video testimonials of patients and help ensure their voice is heard.
One of these priorities relates to achieving healthcare access and universal health coverage. EPF believes this is fundamental to the achievement of the other health and wellbeing-related targets, such as reducing premature mortality, as well as the attainment of all other sustainable development goals and targets related to reduced inequalities, gender equality and elimination of poverty. Health can thus be regarded as a cross-cutting dimension of the UN SDGs.
The EU elections are approaching fast: please get involved, make an impact and ensure the patients’ voice is heard by policy-makers. If you belong to the 70% of Europeans who want the EU to do more for health (Eurobarometer survey, March 2017), join us now in spreading our manifesto, using the #europeforpatients hashtag, sharing and posting your support messages on social media as well as on our website www.europeforpatients.eu. Thank you!
If you wish to support our campaign, share any updates related to the elections, or other health-related priorities feel free to get in touch with us! Several patients with chronic conditions already took the time to share their stories with us. If you are a patient and have a story to tell, they are always welcome.