The European Commission has published an interim evaluation of the EU4Health Programme, the largest and most ambitious EU health funding programme ever. With a budget of €4.6 billion over the 2021-2027 period, EU4Health has made a significant contribution to the EU’s post COVID recovery, by supporting Member States in building more resilient and accessible healthcare systems and reinforcing crisis preparedness and response.
As a main health funding source, EU4Health has been key to building the European Health Union, which includes major deliverables such as Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, the reform of the EU pharmaceutical legislation and the comprehensive approach to mental health.
The EU4Health Programme has also allowed game changing new initiatives to be launched, including the Expert Group on Public Health, the European Health Data Space and Health Technology Assessment framework.
The interim evaluation of EU4Health shows that the Programme is on track to achieving its objectives. There is significant progress in meeting targets in key areas such as: crisis preparedness and response; health promotion and disease prevention; cancer; and addressing the needs of rare disease patients through ERNs.
EU4health has provided significant EU added value through capacity building, strategic planning, and the setting of priorities and actions to upscale and promote innovation and make the best use of research results.
Actions under the EU4Health Programme between January 2021 and April 2024 (cut-off date of the interim evaluation) have resulted in:
- 726 contracts signed with partners such as: health ministries; national, regional and other public authorities; healthcare and health research organisations; and non-profit and private entities;
- Authorities of 22 countries working together;
- 499 organisations collaborating in joint actions across European countries.
EU4Health has also allowed Member States and partners to collaborate on an unprecedented number of projects and joint actions, to improve and foster health in the EU, protect people from serious cross border-health threats, upgrade crisis management capacity, make medicines more available and strengthen health systems.
For more information:
- Factsheet
- Interim evaluation of the EU4Health Programme 2021-2024
- Staff Working Document
- Study supporting interim evaluation – report
- Study supporting interim evaluation – executive summary (FR and DE versions)
Source: European Commission | Public Health | In the Spotlight (https://tinyurl.com/2uudkzm2)