Sundhedsudvalget 2021-22
SUU Alm.del Bilag 456
Offentligt
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Danish Government response to the EU Commission’s
public consultation on the EU strategic framework for global
health
The Danish Government welcomes the opportunity to comment on the European
Commission’s public consultation on the EU strategic framework for global health.
Significant changes in global health and geopolitics have taken place since the
European Commission’s 2010 Communication ‘The EU Role in Global Health’. The
Danish Government thus fully supports the initiative to develop a new EU strategic
framework for global health.
The European Commission’s initial priorities listed in the Call for Evidence are import-
ant and aligns with the Government of Denmark’s overall priorities. The Government
of Denmark recognises that the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated existing structural
weaknesses and inequalities in health systems and response mechanisms in Europe
and globally, not least in fragile areas. The pandemic revealed that global health chal-
lenges require a comprehensive and coordinated response. To that end, the pan-
demic demonstrated how the international dimension of EU health policy has be-
come a crucial part of the EU’s external action.
The Danish Government proposes that the new EU strategic framework for global
health sets an ambitious vision for the EU’s role in global health. The following five
global health challenges remain top priorities to tackle in order to achieve progress in
global health. Building on partnerships and strengthening the Team Europe approach
will be key to successful implementation of the strategic framework.
1.
Strengthen global prevention, preparedness and response to health crises
based on lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic
Date
19 September 2022
The economic and social disruption from COVID-19 has been devastating and the loss
of human lives staggering. One crucial lesson learned from the pandemic is that
health systems across the world are not strong nor resilient enough to handle global
health emergencies. There is an urgent need to address these issues in order to
strengthen global health security. In collaboration with relevant partners, the EU
should provide local, national and global support for health-system capacity building,
including the full implementation of the International Health Regulations (IHR) and
other relevant instruments, as a tool to enhance local, national and global responses
to health emergencies based on experience and evidence from the COVID-19
pandemic.
2.
Ensure a One Health approach to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and other fu-
ture health crises
The increasing incidence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) represents a major global
challenge. Globally, it is estimated that AMR already cause more than 1.2 million
deaths each year; a number that is predicted to dramatically increase if radical action
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 SUU, Alm.del - 2021-22 - Bilag 456: Orientering om Regeringens høringssvar til EU-Kommissionens offentlige høring af en revideret EU-strategi for global sundhed, fra sundhedsministeren
is not taken. The burden of AMR is the greatest in low- and middle-income countries,
but generally, AMR transcends borders. This calls for international action against
AMR. Moreover, AMR threatens our ability to reach the health-related Sustainable
Development Goals incl. the improvement of maternal health and reduction of child
mortality. It further increases the risk of undermining medical achievements in the
treatment of other non-communicable diseases such as cancer. Finally, AMR is a chal-
lenge that operates between the human, animal and environmental sectors. Such
complex, international and intersectoral nature of the issue calls for a global effort
with a One Health approach with coordinated and integrated actions across the hu-
man, animal and environmental sectors.
3.
Strengthen health systems and ensuring universal health coverage (UHC), in-
cluding safeguarding sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and pre-
vention and control of non-communicable diseases (NCDs)
Capacity development of national institutions and primary health care is key to building
more resilient health systems. Ensuring equal access for all to health services of high
quality, including essential medicines and vaccines, should thus remain a key priority.
This includes enhanced access for women and girls to sexual and reproductive health
services which should be a high priority. Addressing the multiple and intersectional
barriers for increased access to service delivery such as bodily autonomy, access to
comprehensive sexuality education and counselling, contraception, safe abortion and
protection against sexual and gender-based violence, including child marriage, is of
outmost importance. SRHR is not only about girls and women. Men and boys also have
such rights and play an important role in securing SRHR access for all. Furthermore,
primary health systems play an essential role in the prevention and control of NCDs,
including strengthening mental health. The EU and multilateral organisations,
particularly the UN, should thus support stronger health systems, including at a
community and local level to achieve UHC.
4.
Strengthen EU leadership and multilateral collaboration in global health incl.
through effective financing and a strengthened and reformed WHO
Addressing the financing gap in global health is an important part of strengthening
global health security and an essential tool to advance common priorities. Team
Europe remains one of the largest contributors on global health in the world and
should accordingly play a leading role in a stronger global health infrastructure. Den-
mark supports a strengthened and reformed WHO, as well as the establishment of a
global pandemic treaty. Un-earmarked, core funding is necessary for the WHO’s con-
tinued leadership position within the global health architecture and to achieve
WHO’s Triple Billion Targets.
5.
Strengthening private-public partnerships to prevent and respond to cross-bor-
der health threats and harness research and innovation
The EU should continue to ensure strong partnerships with non-EU partners, includ-
ing the private sector, philanthropic actors and civil society and advocate for solidar-
ity in the response to global health challenges. The private sector is an important
partner and plays a key role in developing innovative solutions for global health chal-
lenges. Strengthening public-private partnerships is key to prevent and respond to
cross-border health challenges e.g. by promoting resilient supply chains of critical
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 SUU, Alm.del - 2021-22 - Bilag 456: Orientering om Regeringens høringssvar til EU-Kommissionens offentlige høring af en revideret EU-strategi for global sundhed, fra sundhedsministeren
healthcare products; strengthen research and commercial innovation; and promote a
just and sustainable development.
The Government of Denmark agrees that the new strategic framework should rein-
force the Team Europe approach as an important modality and strengthen the exist-
ing Team Europe Initiatives (TEIs) on health. Shared analysis, based on mutual ex-
changes of information and coordination of positions are key components of the TEIs.
To unfold the potential of the TEIs it is therefore important to have designated lead-
ership within each TEI. Strengthening the role of Member States in convening, elabor-
ating and implementing the TEIs should thus be further explored.
The Government of Denmark recognises the need to focus on other key global health
issues such as HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases, vaccines and immunization,
maternal and child health-programmes, active and coordinated responses to the
current global food-crisis as well as the implementation of WASH-programmes.
The new strategic framework must take an inclusive approach and take into account
the need to reduce inequalities in health by reaching the most marginalised and
vulnerable, including those living in fragile areas, and hence to adhere to the principle
of leaving no-one behind.
Finally, the Government of Denmark recognises that the involvement of Member
States in the process of forming the new EU strategic framework for global health is
essential to a successful outcome and anticipates and welcomes an inclusive con-
sultation process in the forthcoming months.
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