As members of the European Commission HERA Civil Society Forum, European Federation of Allergy and Airways Diseases Patients' Association (EFA) together with the European Respiratory Society (ERS) were invited to present the European Lung Health Group's (ELHG) initiative for better lung health under the #KeepBreathing campaign, highlighting the importance of prepared and resilient health systems in the face of future health crises.
On the occasion of the European Commission Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) Civil Society Forum (CSF) in March, EFA, together with the ERS, presented the European Lung Health Group’s (ELHG) #KeepBreathing campaign and its vision for EU action on lung health 2024-2029.
The HERA CSF acts as the contact point between the European Commission service in charge of health preparedness and response and stakeholders representing patients, consumers and healthcare professionals. EFA together with ERS are members of the HERA CSF and were invited to present the ELHG’s initiative on action for better lung health under the #KeepBreathing campaign, highlighting the importance of prepared and resilient health systems in the face of future health crises.
During the meeting, EFA Director of Policy and Communications, Isabel Proaño, alongside Dr Eva Polverino, ERS Director of Scientific Relations with the EU, through policy coordination in topics such as healthcare system strengthening, civil protection and research. They stressed the benefits of embedding lung health in all policies, including climate change and emergency preparedness and response.
With respiratory infections as a leading cause of death worldwide pre-COVID-19, and increased antimicrobial resistance (AMR) around the globe, their presentation highlighted the importance of investing in preventive measures, and education and to ensure proper and efficient use of antibiotics, and developing new antimicrobials and alternative strategies.
Apart from having the opportunity to inform the community about lung health priorities, EFA also participated in all the other points discussed in the meeting, especially in the scope and launch of the European Critical Medicines Alliance (CMA), a European Commission effort to reduce shortages and increase strategic autonomy in the availability of critical medicines in the EU. EFA has been elected member of CMA and participated in the ceremonial launch organised by the Belgian presidency of the EU.
Find out more about the #KeepBreathing campaign and the work of the European Lung Health Group here.
Read the ‘#KeepBreathing: A vision for EU action on lung health 2024-2029’ and learn more about our short and long-term recommendations for better lung health across three areas: prevention, healthcare, research & innovation.
