THE EU SHOULD APPOINT A COMMISSION FIRST-VICE-PRESIDENT FOR HEALTH

The appointment of a European Commission First- Vice President for Health should be top of the EU’s to-do list post COVID-19. The elevation of the Health Commissioner position would ensure effective coordination and leadership at high level.

The regulatory role of the EU is indispensable to protect public health and patient safety, and is embedded in the body of EU legislation and programmes overseen by the European Medicines Agency, European Food Safety Agency, European Chemicals Agency and European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.

Responsibility for health cannot be devolved to DGs whose primary aim is the economic advancement of affected industrial sectors, for example in the oversight of the pharmaceutical and agro-food sectors, and of data with regard to health. This would be a retrograde step, at a time when the EU’s credibility for regulatory oversight must be strengthened. Such an approach risks further fueling Euroscepticism, by raising suspicions of conflict of interest. Nor should responsibility be fragmented, or siloed, creating dilution and inefficiencies between respective legislation, policy and programmes.

Protection and advancement of well-being- public health, patient rights, safety, quality of life is not an internal market issue, but citizens’ primary concern and a central objective of the EU Treaties (Article 3 TEU). A high level of protection of health and universal health coverage are core objectives to be upheld at the European level, as reflected in the EU Pillar of Social Rights and the commitment of the EU and all Member States to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Health requires specific political drive and dedicated Commission resources to meet citizens’ expectations. To achieve this, the EU should appoint a First- Vice-President for Health. This mandate should include both health protection (including food safety) and healthcare cooperation with the following primary responsibilities:

1. Leadership: To act on the will of Member State governments on EU health collaboration, better ensure policy coherence for health across all legislation and programmes of the EU, putting health first in impact assessment, and management of health crises, or emergencies as the COVID-19.
2. Subsidiarity: To ensure that the subsidiarity principle is respected, particularly with regard to organization of health systems and services, whilst encouraging valuable sharing of knowledge, experience and scale-up.
3. Implementation: To facilitate and oversee the effective implementation of existing legislation, ensuring achievement of health protection objectives of the Lisbon Agenda and SDGs; to apply the results of EU funded health research and implement recommendations, e.g. of the Joint Actions, to improve health outcomes.
4. Participation: To facilitate further cooperation in the field of health and healthcare, on the request of Member States; and establish an effective policy dialogue with all health stakeholders (patient groups, hospitals, pharmaceutical and biotech companies, regional health care providers etc.) and their meaningful involvement in relevant initiatives
5. Preparedness: To identify, prevent and prepare for potential health threats and coordinate a swift and efficient EU response together with international partners to health emergencies.

Continued investment and strong leadership in health at EU level is indispensable. The EU Commission and its programmes must demonstrate commitment to independence, through a top-level entity with adequate resources for health protection and promotion. The designation of a First-Vice President for Health would help the Commission have the tools and governance in place, including at high level, for ensuring a health perspective in all policies, including education, environment and socio-economic policies as areas of importance.