EuroHealthNet

EuroHealthNet

EuroHealthNet's logo
Type	Not-for-profit partnership
Founded	1996
Area served	Europe
Members	31 national member groups
Website	www.eurohealthnet.eu

EuroHealthNet is a non-profit partnership of organisations, agencies and statutory bodies working to contribute to a healthier Europe by promoting health and health equity between and within European countries. EuroHealthNet achieves this through its partnership framework by supporting members’ work in EU and associated states through policy and project development, networking and communications. The network’s office has been located in Brussels since 1996 and staff members are experienced in engaging with the EU institutions, decision makers and a large number of stakeholders from public authorities, civil society, the corporate sector and academia. EuroHealthNet has connections with national and regional governments, as well as with the European institutions, and therefore a good understanding of how evidence and information on health equity can be introduced in current policy making agendas.

The secretariat of around ten staff is based in Brussels and supports the partnership, which operates in three closely interlinked pillars:

• Health Promotion Europe (HPE)
• The European Platform for Action on Health and Social Equity (PHASE)
• The European Centre for Innovation, Research and Implementation for Health and Well-Being (CIRI).

Health inequalities and inequities in Europe ^[1]

Health inequalities can be defined as “systematic differences in health between social groups” and populations.^[2] Health inequities, on the other hand, are unfair, “avoidable inequalities” of populations within and between countries.^[3] The WHO’s Committee on the Social Determinants of Health stated that the social gradient, - systematic differences between populations - was unfair; “killing people on a grand scale”.^[2]

Perhaps the clearest example of health inequalities can be seen in life expectancy. The difference between life expectancy at birth can vary by over a decade between European Union member states. For example, in 2012 the life expectancy at birth for Swedish males is 81 years, whereas in Lithuania a baby born could expect to only live until 68.4.^[4] In terms of healthy life years (years of life lived without disability) the gap is even greater, with Estonian males born in 2012 predicted to have 18.4 fewer healthy life years than their Maltese counterparts. These disparities in life expectancy don’t just exist at the macro scale, but can be seen right down to the neighbourhood level; with differences reaching into the decades.^[5] Such disparities are found world-wide, with a whole area of research looking at demographics and improving life expectancy.^[6]

EU Health Policy

Inequalities in health have been an important part of the work of the European Union (EU) since 1992 when specific competencies for public health were included in the Maastricht Treaty. However, as noted above large differences in health still exist between and within all countries in the EU, and some of these inequalities are widening. The EU institutions contribute to reducing health inequalities across the social gradient through a variety of strategies, policies, programmes and initiatives which affect the socio-economic determinants of health.

The Health programmes, the latest being 2014-2020, are one of the Commission’s main instruments for implementing policies aimed at reducing health inequalities. In 2009 the European Commission recognised the challenges and importance of reducing health inequities.^[7] In June 2010 the EU adopted its new strategy - Europe 2020: A strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth.^[8] The document sets out the proposed economic, social and environmental development for the EU over the next 10 years. Although the strategy does not directly address health inequalities, it clearly acknowledges the need to fight inequalities as a prerequisite for growth and competitiveness. The EU has indeed committed to lift 20 million people out of poverty by 2020. This will be pursued through the European platform against poverty and social exclusion, one of the Commission’s seven 'flagship initiatives’ i.e. the mechanisms through which the EU 2020 strategy will be delivered. This process will undoubtedly impact health inequalities between and within EU countries.

EuroHealthNet’s Mission

EuroHealthNet seeks to address the factors that shape health and social inequalities, building the evidence base for public health and health-related policies and health promotion interventions in particular to level up the social gradient in health. The enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of race, religion, economic or social condition. EuroHealthNet therefore stimulates and supports the implementation of integrated approaches addressing the social determinants of health by operating at all levels and across the political spectrum in relevant health, social and employment fields.

Areas of work

• Chronic diseases
• Mental health
• Childhood development
• Health literacy
• Ageing
• Sustainable lifestyles
• Evidence-based policy making
• HIV/AIDS
• Social protection

Projects

• Determine (2007-2010)^[9] An EU wide initiative to stimulate action to address the social and economic determinants of health (SDH) and to improve health equity in the EU and its Member States
• GRADIENT (2009-2012) ^[10] Identifying and evaluating policies which could level-up the socio-economic gradients in health among children and young people in the EU
• Spread (2011-2012) ^[11] Development of scenarios of sustainable lifestyles in 2050 focusing on sustainable living, moving, consuming and healthy living
• Crossing Bridges (2011-2012) ^[12] Advancing the implementation of Health in all Policies (HiAP) approaches in EU Member States
• Equity Action (2011-2014) ^[13] Assisting the Member States to develop tools to better enable health inequalities to be addressed in cross-government policy making
• IROHLA (2012-2015) ^[14] Identifying, validating and presenting evidence based guidelines on addressing health literacy needs of the ageing population in Europe
• DRIVERS (2012-2015) ^[15] Addressing the strategic determinants to reduce health Inequity Via 1) Early childhood development, 2) Realising fair employment, and 3) Social protection
• Quality Action (2013-2016) ^[16] Using practical Quality Assurance (QA) and Quality Improvement (QI) tools to increase the effectiveness of HIV prevention in Europe
• CHRODIS (2014-2017) ^[17] European Joint Action on Chronic Diseases and Promoting Healthy Ageing across the Life Cycle (CHRODIS-JA)

Funding

EuroHealthNet is a non-profit partnership and receives funding from:

• DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (DG EMPL) grants funding through the Employment and Social Innovation (EaSI) financing instrument
• Its members and partners in annual fees decided by the General Council
• Its members and partners through specific grants or donations
• The European Commission for co-funded work in Framework Contracts, specific policy or research projects, Joint Actions, studies and reports

Members of Health Promotion Europe (HPE)

Members are national and regional institutes, academic and research centres, national and regional authorities and government departments. They operate networks in their communities comprising regional and local authorities, practitioners and professional bodies and non-profit organisations, and have wide communications and consultation links with wider stakeholders.

• Austria: Austrian Health Promotion Foundation (FGOE) ^[18]
• Belgium: Flemish Institute for Health promotion and Disease Prevention (VIGeZ)^[19]
• Czech Republic: National Institute of Public Health (SZU)^[20]
• England: The Health and Europe Centre, NHS Kent & Medway ^[21]
• Finland: National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) ^[22]
• Finland: Finnish Federation for Social Affairs and Health (SOSTE)^[23]
• France: National Institute for Prevention and Health Education (INPES)^[24]
• Germany: Federal Centre for Health Education (BZgA)^[25]
• Greece: Institute of Preventive Medicine Environmental and Occupational Health (PROLEPSIS)^[26]
• Hungary: National Institute for Health Development (NEFI)^[27]
• Ireland: Institute of Public Health in Ireland (IPH)^[28]
• Italy: Federsanita ANCI^[29]
• Italy: Veneto Region^[30]
• Italy: Tuscany Region^[31]
• Latvia: Riga City Council Department of Welfare ^[32]
• Netherlands: National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) ^[33]
• Netherlands: Dutch Institute for Healthcare Improvement (CBO) ^[34]
• Netherlands: Pharos Dutch centre of expertise on health disparities ^[35]
• Norway: Norwegian Directorate of Health ^[36]
• Poland: National Institute of Public Health - National Institute of Hygiene ^[37]
• Portugal: National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge ^[38]
• Scotland: NHS Health Scotland ^[39]
• Slovenia: National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ) ^[40]
• Spain: University of La Laguna ^[41]
• Spain: Public Health Secretary - Ministry of Health of Catalonia ^[42]
• Spain: Ministry of Health, Social Services and Equality ^[43]
• Sweden: Stockholm County Council ^[44]
• Sweden: Public Health Agency of Sweden ^[45]
• Sweden: Public Health Committee - Region Västra Götaland ^[46]
• Wales: Public Health Wales ^[47]

Partners of the European Centre for Innovation, Research and Implementation for Health and Well-Being (CIRI)

CIRI is EuroHealthNet’s research-oriented arm. It aims to promote evidence-based approaches to health and wellbeing across all groups in society. CIRI Partners include leading centres of research and public health who are committed to improving the uptake of evidence in policy making processes.

• Belgium: Erasmus University College Brussels, Department of Healthcare and Landscape Architecture ^[48]
• Belgium: Observatoire Wallon de la Santé ^[49]
• Belgium: Université catholique de Louvain, Institute of Health and Society ^[50]
• England: Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, Public Health Department ^[51]
• England: Centre for Health and Inequalities Research (HiNEWS project) of Durham University ^[52]
• Italy: University of L'Aquila ^[53]
• Macedonia: Institute of Public Health of the Republic of Macedonia ^[54]
• Montenegro: Institute of Public Health of Montenegro ^[55]
• Norway: Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Social Sciences and Technology Management ^[56]
• Norway: Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences ^[57]
• Norway: University of Bergen ^[58]
• Portugal: University Institute of Lisbon, Centre for Psychological Research and Social Intervention ^[59]
• Sweden: Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SALAR) ^[60]
• Switzerland: Global Health Equity Foundation ^[61]

Partners of the European Platform on Health and Social Equity (PHASE) =

PHASE is EuroHealthNet’s advocacy and policy-oriented body and brings together organisations willing to work on addressing the wider determinants of health.

• Czech Republic: Public Health Authority of Olomouc Region ^[62]
• England: Health Equalities Group ^[63]
• Greece: Society for the Development and Creative Occupation of Children (EADAP) ^[64]
• Netherlands: Adapting European health Services to diversity (ADAPT) ^[65]
• Netherlands: Dutch Association of Mental Health and Addiction Care (GGZ Nederlands)^[66]
• Sweden: Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SALAR) ^[67]
• Switzerland: Global Health Equity Foundation ^[68]

Observers to the EuroHealthNet Partnership =

The EuroHealthNet partnership allows ministerial and governmental bodies to participate in a limited, non-voting capacity.

• Belgium: Federal Public Service - Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment ^[69]
• United Kingdom: Department of Health ^[70]
• Romania: Ministry of Health ^[71]

References

External links

• http://eurohealthnet.eu/
• http://healthyageing.eu
• http://www.health-inequalities.eu/
• http://health-gradient.eu/