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European Commission

Public health

What the EU does

Researchers in the EU - Nicolás RASCOVAN – Paris, France

Health is a major priority for the European Union. The EU’s health policy complements national policies to ensure that everyone living in the EU is protected from serious cross-border health threats and has access to quality healthcare. 

The European Commission has been building a strong European Health Union to prepare and respond together to health crises. We are making sure that

  • medical supplies are available and affordable
  • Europe’s health systems are more resilient
  • countries work together to improve prevention and treatment for all sorts of diseases. 

The EU’s work also includes action on vaccination, fighting antimicrobial resistance, and preventing and limiting pandemics and other infectious diseases.

We promote a ‘One Health’ approach – to beating cancer and other diseases – recognising the connection between people, animals, plants and their shared environment.

Key figures about public health

€4.4 billion
For building stronger, resilient and accessible health systems (2021-2027)
90-95%
Average child vaccination rate (1st dose) across EU for measles, mumps and rubella
€1.2 billion
Funding for 20 flagship actions integrating mental health into all policy areas

Areas of action

Mental health

Actions and projects helping improve people’s mental health

Medical devices

Ensuring availability and competitiveness of medical devices

Key achievements

  • The EU’s infant mortality rate – typically below 4 deaths per 1,000 live births – is one of the lowest in the world.
  • The European Health Insurance Card helps travellers obtain treatment if they fall ill while visiting another EU Member State, while EU law on cross-border healthcare sets out citizens’ rights when crossing borders for planned care.
  • Through European reference networks, patients with rare or complex diseases benefit from the best expertise from across Europe without even leaving their home country.
  • Cancer is a major cause of death in the EU and a high cost to health systems. The EU is supporting prevention, detection, early diagnosis and treatment as well as quality of life for cancer patients and survivors through Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, backed by €4 billion in funding.
  • The EU has massively supported the research and rollout of COVID-19 vaccines: safe, effective vaccines were developed in record time, and the Commission secured enough doses to protect Europeans and help third countries.
  • We established HERA, the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority. HERA ensures that the EU and Member States are better prepared to face future cross-border health threats, and that they have enough medical supplies. One example: when an Mpox outbreak emerged in 2022, the EU secured the delivery of effective vaccines in just weeks thanks to HERA’s quick reaction.

In focus

One Health

One Health is an integrated, collaborative approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimise the health of people, animals, and ecosystems.

It recognises that the health of humans, domestic and wild animals, plants, and the wider environment – including ecosystems – are closely linked and interdependent.

In today’s interconnected world this approach is essential to prevent, prepare for and respond to global threats such as the recent COVID-19 pandemic.

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