Hungary, as the current holder of the EU Council presidency, is pushing for progress in key health initiatives despite diplomatic tensions. The country claims to have made strides in its efforts to establish an EU action plan on cardiovascular health and a potentially controversial plan to boost organ donation.
Health officials from various EU countries gathered in Budapest to discuss these matters, with Hungary’s Health Minister Péter Takács leading the discussions. Despite the absence of senior government officials from some countries, Takács emphasized the importance of the forum as a platform for sharing opinions based on facts, not ideology.
The discussions focused on the need for concerted action on cardiovascular disease, emphasizing prevention and promoting health literacy. Ideas discussed will be channeled into Council conclusions at a formal ministerial summit in December. Hungary aims to adopt a successful action plan similar to previous initiatives on cancer.
Additionally, the implementation of the European Health Data Space regulation was addressed, with Hungary proposing the establishment of a joint platform for sharing health data. This initiative aims to improve research and policy planning by ensuring decisions are based on good data.
The talks also touched on the topic of organ donation, with Takács outlining plans to implement a universal ‘opt-out’ system to increase availability. He emphasized the importance of cooperation in this area and the need for a new action plan to build on previous successes.
Despite diplomatic tensions, Hungary remains committed to advancing these important health initiatives during its presidency of the EU Council.
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