EBN- Belgium aims to finalize the EU Health Data Space dossier during its EU Council presidency, addressing challenges in negotiations with MEPs. Deputy Prime Minister Frank Vandenbroucke, overseeing health, emphasizes the need for optimism in resolving differences. Key issues involve the safe use of patients’ data, focusing on updating proposals to align with GDPR rights.
Vandenbroucke, leading negotiations for the EU Council, highlights the core agreement on empowering citizens in the Commission’s proposal. He stresses the necessity of an EU-level framework for comprehensive data sharing to enhance healthcare, research, and science. The Belgian minister acknowledges the urgency, especially in the context of growing national health initiatives.
The Belgian presidency also prioritizes addressing medicine shortages, aiming to develop a Critical Medicines Act. Vandenbroucke plans to map vulnerabilities and risks for a limited set of medicines, leading to legal initiatives emphasizing factors beyond pricing in procurement. The Critical Medicines Alliance, a cooperative platform, is an intermediary step towards the envisioned Act.
Concerns about the healthcare workforce’s challenges due to an ageing population and retirements are discussed. Vandenbroucke advocates EU-level cooperation to avoid zero-sum solutions, emphasizing the need for a cooperative approach while respecting national competencies. He suggests a critical review of the Professional Qualifications Directive’s legal framework to enhance mobility while ensuring patient protection.
The Belgian presidency will also conduct a critical assessment of the EU’s cancer plan. Vandenbroucke expresses the need for renewed momentum in legal initiatives related to tobacco taxation and alcoholic beverage labeling, scheduling a high-level meeting on alcohol labeling to address perceived neglect.
