Last updated: 15 January 2008

President’s Message

Dear EFN Members and Colleagues,


As you can see in this EFN update the EU cross-border health care legislative proposal has once more been postponed.

 

As this is a very difficult proposal to handle with, it is important to keep in mind that any health services activity must promote and ensure high quality patient care, based on solidarity, accessibility and sustainability. Therefore, such initiative has: to define clear lines of accountability for the continuity of patient care when care is initiated in one country and requires follow-up in the patient’s home country; and to contain the verdicts of the European Communities Court of Justice.

 

The EFN believes that each Member State should establish a patient’s Ombudsman that can advocate for the patient; and develop a common set of indicators on the quality of services provided, and on the mechanisms to address complaints. One of the conditions for efficient health services is that the European nurses are kept up-to-date and have the possibility for continuous professional development.

 

Finally, the EFN is looking forward to see a carefully prepared proposal in spring 2008, with consideration to both patients and nurses in Europe.

 

                                               Grete Christensen

                                                    EFN President

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15 January 2008


News from EFN

 

EFN Executive Committee meeting, 25 January 2008, Brussels

The EFN Executive Committee members will meet in Brussels on 25 January 2008, for their first annual meeting, to discuss important issues related to EFN and EFN lobby process within the European arena.

 

Update

EFN General Assembly, 10-11 April 2008, Copenhagen

The venue of the next EFN General Assembly to be held in Slovenia during its EU Presidency, has been changed and will be organised in Copenhagen on 10-11 April 2008, hosted by the Danish Nurses Organisation. Further details will be forwarded to you in due course.

 

Update

South-eastern Europe Health Network (SEEHN) Meeting

The EFN General Secretary participated in the Council of Europe SEEHN meeting held in Zagreb, Croatia, on 7-8 December 2007, on the mobility of health professionals and made a presentation focussing on: promotion of synergies between the European Commission, the World Health Organisation and the Council of Europe; Implementation of Ethical Recruitment Guidelines within Europe; and planning the human resources for health.

Update

News from the EU

 

Slovenian EU Presidency

On 1st January 2008, Slovenia took up the EU Presidency from Portugal, and became the first new EU member State to hold the EU Presidency. During the six coming months, Slovenia will focus on issues, such as: the future of the Union and the Lisbon Treaty; the Lisbon Strategy; to promote dialogue between cultures, beliefs and traditions, in the context of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue. Regarding health, the Slovenian Presidency will work on issues such as: promotion of health by encouraging a healthy lifestyle; prevention and control of communicable diseases such as HIV/AIDS; innovation in healthcare; and accessibility of healthcare services.

For further information, click here.


Update

 

EU cross-border health care legislative proposal postponed

The European Commission announced on 19 December 2007 that the EU cross-border health care legislative proposal, which is expected to clarify the rules on cross border healthcare and is tackling patients' rights to obtain reimbursable medical treatment in another EU member state, was postponed until early 2008 (probably until spring 2008) due to a series of open and controversial questions that need further discussion. EFN General Secretary published an article on this topic in the European Parliament Magazine (see p.20 of the magazine).


To read the article, click here.


Update

 

Programme of Community Action in the field of Public Health (2003-2008)

In November 2007, the European Commission approved Community co-financing for 63 projects in the field of public health, according to the amended annual work plan for 2007. The list of the projects which were awarded a grant is now available on the Public Health Executive Agency (PHEA) website.


For further information, click here.