COVID-19 and the European Health Union
European doctors have been at the heart of the efforts to manage the COVID-19 pandemic. A series of surveys of the CPME membership in 2020 and 2021 on the experience of National Medical Associations throughout the pandemic was summarised in the CPME report on COVID-19 in Europe and complemented by the European doctors' recommendations to the EU for lessons learnt for pandemic preparedness, both published in November 2020. They cover question relating to medical technology and supplies, data, and the medical workforce.
Upon the launch of the European Health Union as the European Commission’s health policy response to the COVID-19 pandemic, CPME adopted the CPME position on the Commission’s Proposal for a Regulation on a reinforced role for the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in crisis preparedness and management for medicinal products and medical devices, the CPME position on the Commission’s Proposal for a Regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 851/2004 establishing a European Centre for disease prevention and control (ECDC), and the CPME position on Commission’s Proposal for a Regulation on cross-border threats to health in March 2021.
CPME continues to actively contribute to tackling the COVID-19 pandemic, including the roll-out of vaccinations, and fighting misinformation and disinformation. More recently, CPME also published the CPME Position Paper on the European Commission Pharmaceutical Strategy for Europe, and the CPME statement on the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA).
Healthcare professionals are at the front lines against the virus. They sometimes face extreme conditions when caring for their patients. These conditions may include high risk of infections due to lack of protection, insufficient supplies of medicines and devices, long working hours and occupational burnout. CPME gathered COVID-19 related information amongst its members and released updated national status reports:
Please see below CPME actions in support of healthcare professionals fighting the virus:
EMSA / CPME Joint COVID-19 Myths vs Facts Social Media Campaign
CPME position on Commission’s Proposal for a Regulation on cross-border threats to health, 20 March 2021
Pandemic preparedness - European doctors' recommendations to the EU, 21 November 2020
European doctors publish CPME report on COVID-19 in Europe, 21 November 2020
European doctors call for a European response to medicine shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, 22 April 2020
Letter from the CPME President Prof. Dr Montgomery to all doctors in Europe fighting Covid-19, 9 April 2020
Joint Letter on Healthy COVID-19 Recovery, 26 May 2020
European Medical Organisations condemn attacks on healthcare professionals fighting Covid-19 pandemic, 14 May 2020
A Plea to Reform and Finance the World Health Organization Sufficiently, 14 May 2020
Joint Statement on Covid-19 and Mental Health, 8 May 2020
COVID-19: Principles for Global Access, Innovation and Cooperation, 23 April 2020
SFP Coalition Statement on COVID-19 and Tobacco Control, 21 April 2020
SOS Moria Appeal from European doctors, 9 April 2020
Healthcare professionals urge authorities to guarantee protection to those in front lines against Covid-19, 27 March 2020
Joint open letter in support of research and development during the current pandemic, 25 March 2020
AEMH-FEMS Motion on SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Outbreak, 21 March 2020
Joint letter to the President of the European Commission von der Leyen and the Commissioner for helath Kyriakides, 18 March 2020