EU ACTION TO STRENGTHEN HEALTH SECURITY IN CROSS-BORDER THREATS TO HEALTH

Authors

  • Momchil Mavrov Medical University - Plovdiv, Republic of Bulgaria
  • Mariya Hristozova Medical University - Plovdiv, Republic of Bulgaria

Keywords:

public health, European Union, patients, COVID–19, European Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA)

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic posed a number of challenges to the European Union and the Member States, which required swift and adequate solutions to tackle it and ensure the health of the population. In the context of the global health crisis, a number of key problems in the health sector have become even more significant, such as unequal access to health services, medical equipment and medicines, insufficient funding for health systems, shortage of qualified medical professionals and other negative factors. As a result of the experience gained from the current pandemic, the European Union and the Member States have concluded that a new approach to health policy development and implementation is needed to effectively prevent, prepare for and manage future health crises. This approach should be based on coordinated action at European level and even closer cooperation between Member States. Modern public health risks require the adoption of new measures and mechanisms to strengthen health security in Europe and, above all, to guarantee the life and health of the population. The first step in this direction should be to improve the legal framework in the EU and the Member States, especially with regard to cross - border health threats. However, this measure alone is not enough to ensure an effective response by the European Union and the Member States in the event of future health emergencies. It is also necessary to take a second measure, which is extremely important, namely: within the EU to operate specialized European bodies and institutions to implement the established legislation in a way that ensures the highest possible achievement of European goals. and public health priorities, especially with regard to new health threats. The European Union recognized the importance of these circumstances, which are absolutely necessary prerequisites for ensuring an adequate level of European health security, and took two important decisions in the analyzed area, namely: building a European Health Union and establishing a new specialized body for preparedness and reactions in case of health emergencies. The idea of creating a European Health Union is an entirely new initiative which, if successfully implemented, could make a significant contribution to strengthening European structures and mechanisms for responding to cross-border threats to health and to the stability of Europe as a whole. The second decision of the European Union to create a new specialized body, whose activities will be focused entirely on combating health emergencies, is a continuation of the initiative to create a health union. The establishment of this body is a necessary and useful tool for the real guarantee of the health rights of citizens in the event of new health crises that go beyond the borders of individual Member States. This report will present EU action to strengthen health security in Europe

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Published

2022-05-30

How to Cite

Mavrov, M., & Hristozova, M. (2022). EU ACTION TO STRENGTHEN HEALTH SECURITY IN CROSS-BORDER THREATS TO HEALTH. KNOWLEDGE - International Journal , 52(4), 601–606. Retrieved from https://ikm.mk/ojs/index.php/kij/article/view/5231

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