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  • 04-02-2021 14:44

EU/Presidency: Portugal supports effort to create European Health Union

EU/Presidency: Portugal supports effort to create European Health Union

Brussels, Feb. 4, 2021 - Portugal's health minister Marta Temido announced on Thursday the Portuguese presidency of the Council of the European Union's support for the Brussels proposal to build a European Health Union, notably in strengthening the response to future pandemic crises.

The legislative package presented by the European Commission and which, Temido said, "the Portuguese presidency welcomes and will do everything in its power to develop during these six months", consists of three initiatives, the first of which provides for a review of the mandate of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

"The Portuguese presidency fully supports the proposal to strengthen this agency's mandate, especially as regards its ability to enhance the EU's and Member States' capacity to respond to health threats and in the prevention and control of communicable diseases, she said, speaking in the European Parliament's Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety.

 Temido also said that with this revision of the ECDC's mandate, "Member States should take a more active role" with this centre, notably by sharing information.

The minister also stressed the Portuguese presidency's commitment to strengthening the powers of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to facilitate a coordinated Europe-wide response to health crises, particularly by mitigating the risk of shortages of medicines and medical devices.

She said the presidency hoped that this proposal "would create a more uniform system for identifying and managing potential serious shortages of medicines and medical devices".

IG/ADB // ADB.

Lusa