Olivér Várhelyi, EU Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare at European Commission, shared on LinkedIn:
“Women live longer, but too often in poorer health․
Europe’s universal healthcare is one of our greatest strengths, but it is under growing pressure.
And women are among those who will face the consequences most.
That was my message today at the European Parliament event ՛Women’s Health in Europe: a life stage approach to access, prevention and care՛, hosted by MEP Gabriela Firea.
Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death in the EU, and women are more likely to be underdiagnosed and undertreated.
That is why our Safe Hearts Plan gives particular attention to women, from our proposed recommendation on health checks, which addresses their specific needs, to an upcoming EU dashboard on cardiovascular health inequalities.
We are also acting beyond heart health: helping to identify gaps in cancer screening, diagnosis and treatment, helping Member States expand HPV vaccination to both girls and boys, proposing in the Biotech Act to make it easier for pregnant and breastfeeding women to take part in clinical trials, strengthening safeguards for women as we revise the medical devices rules, and investing in research into how cardiovascular disease differs for women and men.
There’s a lot of good work already underway, in the Commission and across Member States, to address women’s needs around healthcare, throughout their lives.
That is why I announced today our next step: a European Roadmap on Women’s Health, taking stock of ongoing and future actions, particularly on earlier diagnosis, research and clinical trials.
Let’s keep working together, European Commission, European Parliament and Member States, to turn these commitments into real change for women across Europe.”
Other articles from Olivér Várhelyi on OncoDaily.
