The Minister for Health highlights the European agreement to advance in mental health and the autonomy of the health system and the pharmaceutical industry

The Minister for Health, Mónica García, chaired the meeting of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO), in its health section. The session was the culmination of the six months of the Spanish presidency of the Council of the EU, marked by significant advances in mental health care and Europe's autonomy and resilience in health and pharmaceuticals.

The minister announced the launch of a comprehensive mental health strategy that will be able to rely on a network of national experts, and will focus on the prevention of mental health problems and their effects on the education system and work. Furthermore, there will be a budget of €100 million to better study the effects of long-term COVID-19.

García highlighted the progress towards the EU's strategic autonomy in the production and supply of medicines, which translates into new competences for the European Medicines Agency and a strengthening of the European pharmaceutical industry.

García devoted part of his speech to climate change and its impact on health. The Spanish Ministry of Health will present a paper on this issue at COP28 in Dubai. She also highlighted the importance of HIV care, which will be celebrated tomorrow as World HIV Day.

García explained that negotiations are also under way on the regulation of substances of human origin (blood, tissue and cells from donors), pending a third day of dialogue to be held in December.

She also pointed out that during the months of the Spanish presidency of the Council of the EU the parties had made significant progress on child obesity and the health risks associated with energy drinks.

The minister stressed that the European Commission is providing humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza on "an unprecedented scale". She warned that "there are urgent needs", including the situation of hostages and civilians.

García highlighted the six months of work to strengthen health systems and the reinforcement of healthy habits with attention to their social conditioning factors. The Spanish presidency has offered its outstretched hand to the Belgian government, which will take over the EU Council presidency. "We want to create the Europe of health with the One Health approach," she said.