State Secretary of the Ministry of Health Michal Štofko sa 23.- On 24 April, he attended the informal Council of Health Ministers in Brussels organised by the Belgian Presidency.
The main topic of the discussion was the security of the supply of medicines and the resolution of the problems associated with the lack of medicines, including the measures proposed in the EU Critical Medicines Alliance, which was formally launched on 24. 4. to the margins of the Informal Council of Ministers. "The Slovak Republic considers the Critical Medicines Alliance together with the HERA and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) as a key player in assessing potential threats. From our point of view, the Alliance should focus not only on predictability but also on the transparency of the supply chain. In this context, we would appreciate the functioning of the EU traceability system for medicinal products." underlined the State Secretary of the MZ SR.
Ministers also discussed the issues of the shortage of health workers faced by all Member States of the European Union. In this context, the Union needs an EU strategy for the health workforce to address current challenges and long-term trends such as population ageing and health staff needs planning.
The negotiations also touched on the issue of non-communicable diseases with a focus on primary care. The EU can play an important role in preventing non-communicable diseases. The European Cancer Plan, together with the EU's comprehensive approach to mental health, are very good examples of how to support Member States in tackling this complex problem.
