Last days to contribute to EU consultation on community action in the field of health 

The European Commission/DG SANCO published in August its preliminary orientations for next year's Work Plan (WP), i.e. the WP implementing - for 2009 - the Second Programme of Community action in the field of health (2008-2013).

The document may be found here. The 2008 WP may be found here.

WPs are annual plans setting out priority actions to be undertaken, as well as the allocation of resources for each year of the Health Programme.

The 2008-2013 Programme is intended to complement, support and add value to the policies of the Member States and contribute to increased solidarity and prosperity in the EU by protecting and promoting human health and safety and by improving public health.

Under the new 2008-2013 Programme, civil society participation in health policy-making is promoted. DG SANCO is thus seeking views on which priorities should be included in the work plan for 2009.

The scope of the work plan must be within the objectives of the overall programme. In general, these are:

• To improve citizens' health security;
• To promote health, including the reduction of health inequalities,
• To generate and disseminate health information and knowledge.

The main orientations which have been currently singled-out by the EC are:

• Health Security
• Promotion of Health
• Health information (including cancer and chronic diseases)

Suggestions on priority areas should be sent to sanco-workplan2009@ec.europa.eu by 30 September 2008.