Ole Petter Ottersen , professor 1237, Rhoda Wanyenze , dean , professor 4, Benoit Miribel , secretary common 35, Sania Nishtar , senator 6, Detlev Ganten , professor 37 1Karolinska Institutet 2University of Oslo 3One Europe for International Well being 4Makerere College Faculty of Public Well being 5One Sustainable Well being for All Basis 6Senate of Pakistan 7Virchow Basis for International Well being
This open letter proposes subsequent steps for the EU International Well being Technique and makes suggestions following a gathering on the Nobel Discussion board, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
On 1 January 2023, Sweden took over the presidency of the European Union’s Council at a time of many international well being challenges. It is crucial that the EU steps up its efforts to safeguard the coverage of “well being for all” and strengthen the world’s preparedness for future well being crises. The European Fee just lately introduced a brand new International Well being Technique,1 as a transfer in that route. Within the context of the Swedish EU Council Presidency, on 9 February 2023, the Karolinska Institutet organised a gathering to debate the altering position of the EU as a worldwide well being actor and the way in which ahead with regards to the implementation of the brand new international well being technique. Amongst these participating within the assembly had been representatives from academia, civil society organizations, coverage makers, and personal sector.* As EU member states are actually negotiating the council’s conclusions on the worldwide well being technique, we provide the next suggestions:
Human well being and wellbeing are of the very best precedence for people in addition to society. Quick and sustainable progress in international well being can solely be achieved by putting an emphasis on translating primary analysis into scientific observe, in addition to by fostering belief and partnership throughout many sectors to realize the UN 2030 Agenda Sustainable Growth Objectives (SDGs), together with academia, the non-public sector, political determination makers, and civil society.
As evidenced throughout the covid-19 pandemic, main determinants of well being and wellbeing are to be discovered exterior the healthcare sector and embody the provision of inexpensive and wholesome meals, clear water and air, wholesome cities, international safety, and what we be taught from household, neighborhood, and formal coaching establishments. These components decide well being all through our lives and throughout generations.
Whereas these determinants of well being have lengthy been accepted, it’s now ever extra obvious that human well being can be inextricably linked to plant and animal well being, and to environmental and planetary well being. This convergence of world well being challenges requires international options and native motion, in an interconnected world.
The “One Europe for International Well being Declaration” (previously generally known as “Lyon Declaration for a European Well being Union”2) urges European stakeholders in international well being to: make a long run dedication for future generations; act domestically whereas considering globally; come collectively in fairness and solidarity with due reference to local weather and planetary well being; restrict silos with extra intersectoral cooperation; and decide to good governance.
We recognise the Prague modification,3 which underlines the necessity for readability within the duties of worldwide and nationwide organisations concerning the governance and financing of One Well being and international well being actions and infrastructure; the significance of balancing local weather, animal, and human well being experience within the advisory our bodies of those organisations; the paramount position of youthful populations to make sure sustainability of One Well being insurance policies.
We welcome the EU’s International Well being Strategy1 introduced in November 2022 with the three priorities “Ship higher well being and wellbeing throughout the life course”; “Strengthen well being programs and advance common healthcare protection (UHC)”; “Forestall and fight well being threats, together with pandemics, making use of a One Well being method.”
We emphasise the necessity for balanced international well being methods that tackle each well being safety and well being fairness in international partnerships.
We assist the worldwide well being technique outlining international interdependence in relation to infectious illnesses. However we draw consideration to the lack of understanding of the affect international commerce regimes have on the unacceptable rise of non-communicable illnesses in nations inside and outdoors the EU.
Well being priorities shouldn’t be subordinated to financial targets and different sectors, similar to commerce. Subsequently, we suggest that mechanisms for equitable partnerships are established, recognising the position of all stakeholders throughout sectors, ranges, and areas.
Governance constructions for well being have to be put in place to safe cross-sectoral cooperation and synergies for well being inside the EU (and cross-borders) with the intention to interact all stakeholders for international well being.
Unbiased monitoring and accountability mechanisms and constructions for the implementation of the worldwide well being technique should be established.
We provide our collaboration and participation in implementing the EU’s international well being technique whereas adhering to the rules outlined above.
We proceed, by means of the One Europe for International Well being (OEGH)4 coalition, to assist the present and future Presidencies of the Council of the EU with stakeholder conferences, subsequent in Spain and Belgium, with the intention to contribute to the implementation of the EU international well being technique.
Footnotes Acknowledgments: We acknowledge the keynote speaker Githinji Gitahi and Breakout dialogue group leaders: Ayoade Alakija, Anna Mia Ekström, Ilona Kickbusch, Anders Nordström, and Anna Zorzet; in addition to contributors to the textual content Roland Göhde, Karin Sipido, and Brian Rudkin; seminar moderators Helena Nordenstedt and Stefan Swartling Peterson; seminar organising committee: Karin Ekström, Cecilia Leideman Bäck, Marie Hasselberg, Carita Rehn, Emma Thorell, Göran Tomson, Nina Viberg, and Ulrika Widegren.
*Convergence on International Well being – Joint motion just about the brand new EU International Well being Technique | Karolinska Institutet (ki.se) Assembly individuals had been stakeholders (and people) from academia, civil society, EC, politics, non-public sector from Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and Uganda, gathered to debate how EU ought to defend and enhance human well being for all within the many years to come back.
Competing pursuits: None declared.
Provenance and peer overview: commissioned, not peer reviewed.
