Sweden firms up EU plans on flu and antibiotics

EU health ministers are to hold a meeting in October to focus on the spread of influenza AH1N1.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), the Health Security Committee and the European Commission are among those working actively on emergency preparations. A possible joint EU strategy on influenza issues will continue to be discussed during the Swedish presidency of the EU.

No vaccine against AH1N1 has yet been produced, but one should be available by September or October.

EU ministers also discussed antibiotic resistance and the need to develop new effective antibiotics.

"As I see it, the need for new antibiotics is more urgent than any of us had previously realised," said minister for health and social affairs Goeran Haegglund.

The Swedish presidency has commissioned a report that will present proposals on how the development of new effective antibiotics can be encouraged, and is organising an expert conference in September, focusing on finance options and other incentives for their development.

In addition, the ministers looked at the proposal for patients to enjoy EU-wide rights when seeking healthcare.

"As people move between the European countries more, there is an increasing need for a new regulatory framework that supports the patient. To me, it is important that people should be granted compensation for healthcare received in another country," said Haegglund.

"We need a new regulatory framework which is predictable and clear and does not put any patients at a disadvantage."

The European Commission and the Swedish presidency want to reach a political agreement on the draft directive on cross-border care at the Council meeting in December.