§ Viscount Hanworthasked Her Majesty's Government:
What was the outcome of the EC Health Council meeting on 30 April. [HL1937]
§ Baroness Jay of PaddingtonMy honourable friend the Minister for Public Health chaired the meeting of the European Community Health Council on 30 April in Luxembourg, on behalf of the United Kingdom Presidency of the European Union.
In an open debate on the future framework for action in the field of public health, the Council explored three strands for future action; improving information for the development of public health; reacting rapidly to threats to health; and tackling the determinants of health through health promotion and disease prevention. The Council also discussed the limitations of the present disparate funding programmes, and the importance of improved efforts to ensure that health protection requirements form a constituent part of other Community policies. The Council agreed common positions on the proposed programmes of Community action on rare diseases and on pollution-related diseases. Agreement was also reached on a Council Recommendation on the suitability of blood and plasma donors and the screening of donated blood. The Council agreed conclusions on transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, and on the integration of health protection requirements in Community policies. Progress was noted on the Community's role in combating tobacco consumption, on the Commission's proposal for a programme of action on injury prevention, and on the European Union-United States Task Force on Communicable Diseases.