The next EU Health Commissioner holds the key to a holistic and inclusive future for European health policy

After a five-year mandate marked by a global pandemic, this new term of the European Commission offers an opportunity for a shift towards a more inclusive, sustainable and comprehensive European Health Union.  

For the Red Cross, the need for robust health services is not limited to the next pandemic or cross-border health threats, it is a daily reality for the people we accompany, and the public health systems we support. The European Health Union represents a commitment to protecting health and well-being across Europe and globally. Yet, the current design focusses on an emergency approach rather than on developing a comprehensive and long-term pathway to health for all.  

The latest Communication on the European Health Union is clear. Since 2020, Member States and the Commission have collaborated to strengthen the EU's capacity to respond to health threats and as a result, the EU is better prepared for future crises. However, national health systems continue to be strained and, in many cases, unable to provide quality holistic care to everyone. The inability to swiftly secure a doctor’s appointment or receive timely treatment leads to worsening health conditions that often could have been managed better if addressed earlier. The stress and anxiety of not being able to access care can also exacerbate existing health issues and impact overall well-being.  

The next European Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare must capitalise on the post-pandemic learning curve and go beyond crisis management and recovery, and ensure that healthcare across the EU is accessible, equitable, and resilient in all circumstances. 

Every day, National Red Cross Societies' mobile health services reach and care for those who are excluded from the healthcare system due to their residence status, mobility challenges, insufficient financial means or the lack of available services in remote areas. In the 1,300 Red Cross health facilities in the EU, our volunteers work to make health, including mental health, accessible to everyone, everywhere, at any time. 

Through this outreach, we also witness the weight of socio-economic determinants on health. A recent study by the Spanish Red Cross reveals how socio-economic vulnerabilities contribute to unhealthy eating habits, poor nutrition and poorer health outcomes, emphasising the urgent need for a holistic and social approach to health.  

Moreover, the European population is not the only one facing health challenges. Despite recent progress, millions of people around the world still systematically lack access to essential health services. Urbanization, emerging infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance or climate change - are all increasing global health risks. For this reason, we welcomed the EU Global Health Strategy (2022) that added an external dimension to the European Health Union. Once again, we hope that the next Commissioner will harness the, albeit uneven, progress made in the past few decades on global health. Health is not only an outcome of development but a key contributor to social cohesion and justice. The EU must carry forward a needs-based and people-centred approach to its external action on health, with a core objective of promoting access to equitable and effective quality health for all within and outside its borders. 

As an expert on public health and a global healthcare provider, the Red Cross calls for policies that address all barriers to accessing care, maintaining health, and safeguarding well-being, in Europe and beyond.  

Healthy populations are inherently more resilient. Another crisis akin to COVID-19 will emerge and could manifest in various ways. We need to strengthen our healthcare and social protection systems now to be ready for the next global challenge. We believe in the power of a strong European Health Union in supporting Member States in this effort, defeating inequities in health by ensuring access regardless of socio-economic or residence status, strengthening community health and specialised services and tackling the root causes of health disparities. 

There is hope in knowing that global health is getting better overall and that we can come together in the face of emergencies and learn from our experiences. This progress is an opportunity, and it is a responsibility.  

As European citizens put public health amongst the top priorities they want the EU to address, the European Health Union has the potential to be an important tool in responding to this imperative. This potential can only be realised if we move away from a reactive to a proactive, comprehensive and inclusive strategy. The Red Cross stands ready to support these efforts from the very local to the global level.