Lung health is a determining factor in overall societal health. In the EU, respiratory diseases remain Achilles heel - a huge burden on patients, healthcare systems and the economy. Together with the European Lung Health Group, EFA launched the #KeepBreathing campaign in view of the upcoming European election to call on EU policymakers for a coherent approach to lung health policy in an MEP Lung Health Group Event - “KeepBreathing: A vision for EU action on lung health 2024-2029”. Read our new publication.
On 21 February 2024, the European Lung Health Group, nine European-level patient and healthcare professional organisations, held an online event “KeepBreathing: A vision for EU action on lung health 2024-2029” to address the need for a coherent lung health policy in Europe with the participation of Members of the European Parliament - Tomislav Sokol (Croatia, EPP), Radka Maxova (Czechia, S&D) and Stelios Kympouropoulos (Greece, EPP).
#KeepBreathing: an opportunity for better lung health in the EU
In the EU, 1 in 8 deaths are caused by lung diseases and the numbers are rising. But the strain of lung diseases expands well beyond its impact on patients’ lives, it is a burden for healthcare systems and society. The total cost of poor lung health in Europe is estimated at 611 billion EUR.
“Despite the increasing burden of respiratory diseases due to aging, the impact of climate change and pollution, as well as risk of viral pandemics, however, there are limited resources, and reduced budget for research, as well as for prevention and healthcare”, explains Dr. Eva Polverino, Director of Scientific Relations from the European Respiratory Society (ERS) in her presentation.
“Lung health, in the three key areas of prevention, care and research, requires attention and investment. 9 in 10 Europeans consider respiratory diseases to be a serious problem in their country,” stated Marcia Podestà, EFA President in the welcoming message.
For these reasons, the need to tackle poor lung health in a targeted, collaborative, and resourced action on lung health in Europe has never been more urgent.
The time is now for a lung health policy that helps Europe to #KeepBreathing
The panel discussion revolved around the opportunities for better lung health, giving the floor to MEPs Tomislav Sokol, Stelios Kympouropoulos and Radka Maxová to voice their vision on the action the EU should undertake to address lung health.
MEP Tomislav Sokol touched on the different areas related to lung health, bringing up the EU health budget, pharmaceutical legislation, tobacco prevention and general care for patients living with respiratory diseases - “At the European Parliament, we should give more priority to health by having a permanent fully-fledged health committee, to coordinate all initiatives on health and raise the profile of health at the Parliament level, in the upcoming mandate.”
MEP Stelios Kympouropoulos reiterated the need to focus on the full spectrum of diseases falling under lung conditions while addressing prevention, healthcare and resources – “In the next mandate, we should focus on increasing the resources dedicated to lung health across prevention, care, research and innovation.”
MEP Radka Maxová spoke about lung health in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic – “We need to prioritise lung health to ensure the healthcare systems and society are prepared to respond effectively to future respiratory challenges, building an overall public health resilience.”
#KeepBreathing: A vision for EU action on lung health 2024-2029
In the closing, MEPs Stelios Kympouropoulos and Radka Maxová focused on the need to prioritise an overall strategy to address lung health in Europe in a view of upcoming European elections. This has reinforced the recommendations previously expressed by MEP Tomislav Sokol, to have a permanent fully-fledged health committee at the European Parliament in the new mandate, that focuses solely on health rather than combined with environmental issues.
The #KeepBreathing campaign urges policymakers to take action across three key areas – prevention, care and research – under the next EU mandate. A strong policy towards lung health will improve and save millions of lives, lessen the strain on Europe’s ailing healthcare systems, and better prepare the bloc for future health crises.
Read the new policy brief “#KeepBreathing: A vision for EU action on lung health 2024-2029”.
Read the press release.
Learn more about the European Lung Health Group here.