European Health Policy Forum
The EU Health Forum serves as an information and consultation mechanism to ensure that the aims of the Community's health strategy are made clear to the public and respond to their concerns. It provides an opportunity to representative organisations of patients, health professionals and other stakeholders, such as health service providers, to make contributions to health policy development, its implementation and the setting of priorities for action.
The EU Health Forum is composed of two complementary elements: An Open Forum as a platform for general exchange of information and for a discussion with a broader range of groups and interested parties, and a Health Policy Forum with a consistent set of member organisations, for the discussion of key policy areas.
EPF is a member of the European Health Policy Forum, represented by President Anders Olauson and Director Nicola Bedlington. For more information go tohttp://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_overview/health_forum/health_forum_en.htm
European Medicines Agency (EMEA) Patient and Consumer Working Party
The EMEA Human Scientific Committees' Working Party with Patients' and Consumers' Organisations (more commonly known as the Patients' and Consumers' Working Party, or PCWP) was established to provide recommendations to the European Medicines Agency and its human scientific committees on all matters of interest to patients in relation to medicinal products.
Mike O’ Donovan, EPF Treasurer represents EPF in this Working Party.Weblink http://www.emea.europa.eu/htms/general/contacts/CHMP/CHMP_PCWP.html
EFPIA Patients Think Tank
EPF is a member of the EFPIA Patients Think Tank
Patients’ organisations and the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) work together within the Think-Tank to: • form an on-going two-way dialogue between patient representatives and the pharmaceutical industry, having full, frank and open discussions • work towards an increasing understanding within the industry of patients’ perspectives and needs, and within patients’ organisations of the industry’s perspective • debate the respective positions of patients and EFPIA, on EU policy, EU strategies and EU goals
Cooperation with Health Professionals
EU Cooperation with Doctors
Joint Principles between the European Standing Committee of Doctors (CPME) and EPF
The respective boards of the CPME and EPF met in September 2007 to explore how they could best work together in relation to the new patient – doctor relationship. A set of joint principles were agreed by both organisations’ Annual General Meetings. CPME and EPF work closely on key EU policy issues and in particular on issues around health literacy. Both organisations are also involved in key high level EU health committees and working parties, and are associate partners in the EUNETPAS project on patient safety.
EPF cooperates also with the Royal College of Physicians in relation to their on-going work on patient involvement and health literacy and their European activities.
EU Cooperation with Pharmacists
Joint Meeting of the European Pharmacists Group (PGEU) and EPF, September 2008
The PGEU board and key representatives of EPF met in Brussels in September to learn more about each others’ respective organisations and priority work areas; it was agreed that both organisations should continue to meet on a regular basis to discuss issues linked to the pharmacists’ role in the provision of patient-centred healthcare. Both organisations are also involved in key high level EU health committees and working parties and are associate partners in the EUNETPAS project on patient safety.
EU Cooperation with Nurses
The European Federation of Nurses and EPF are working together to look at how both organisations can support their national members in obtaining European Structural Fund monies to translate EU health policies and orientations into practice. For more information please contact Nicola Bedlington.
Page last modified: 13th February 2010