September 2007 - News from the MHE Secretariat
Information to Patients
MHE has been actively involved in the Stakeholder Consultation Group on Information to Patients, set up by the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA). The aim of the group is to coordinate action with other health and consumer organizations for a common advocacy strategy to maintain public health concern in the debate on information to patients.
The Group has prepared a “Joint Statement on Information to Patients: the Way Forward” which was sent out on 20 September 2007, together with a press release, to the Steering Committee of Pharmaceutical Forum, European press, Commission’s officials, Commissioner Kyprianou (responsible for health), Commissioner Verheugen (industry and enterprise) and all EPHA members.
The Joint Statement outlines concrete actions to be taken by EU policy makers to define an accurate and forward looking health information strategy, whilst reaffirming the commitment of several organisations, who wish to have an active role in developing such a strategy. According to the undersigning organisations, it is important to prioritise the European Medicines Agency project “EudraPharm”, to foster national platforms for health information, to develop health literacy for patients and networks of libraries for Health.
For more information: contact person, Mari Fresu,
E-mail mari.fresu@mhe-sme.org, Tel +32 2 280 04 68
ProMenPol Conference, “Promotion of Mental Health - Improving Practice and Policy”, Berlin (Germany), 11-12 October 2007
The main issue to be addressed at the ProMenPol conference (MHE is a member of the ProMenPol project) is to gain agreement between the project actors and outside interested parties on the conceptual framework for the project. It also aims to widely disseminate information concerning positive mental health and to amend it on the basis of the feedback obtained at the conference.
For more information: ProMenPol website,
http://www.mentalhealthpromotion.net/?i=promenpol.en.events
MHE representation at various meetings
On 6 September, Elisabeth Muschik and Sogol Noorani participated in the Social Policy Working Group at the Social Platform in Brussels.
On 12 September, John Henderson and Fanny Muller represented MHE at a Work Package 4 meeting of the CAMHEE Project in Barcelona (Spain).
On 13-15 September, John Henderson and Mari Fresu participated in the IMHPA (Implementing Mental Health Promotion Action) Conference, "Joining forces across Europe for prevention and promotion in mental health", which took place in Barcelona (Spain).
On 13 and 14 September, Josée Van Remoortel participated in the meeting of experts for the study on the "Specific Risks of Discrimination against persons in situation of major dependence or with complex needs" led by Inclusion Europe.
On 17 September, Mari Fresu attended an EPHA (European Public Health Alliance) meeting on information to patients in Brussels.
On 18 September, Fanny Muller attended a meeting with the Danish Institute for Human Rights on the forthcoming EU study on multiple discrimination which was held at the Social Platform.
On 25 September, Mary Van Dievel and Sogol Noorani participated in a meeting with the Social Inclusion Unit of the European Commission, Directorate General for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities.
On 27 September, Mari Fresu participated in a dissemination seminar of the Mental Health Economics European Network (MHEEN) in London (UK).
On 28 September, a meeting of the MHE Executive Committee took place in Brussels.
On 29 September, a meeting of the MHE Board was organised in Brussels.