Helen Collis

1 week ago | politico.eu | Helen Collis

Estonia’s social affairs minister lambasted the World Health Organization’s Europe chief for meeting with Russia’s foreign minister when the former Soviet country has frequently attacked Ukraine’s health facilities. Karmen Joller, who is also a doctor, said she is “profoundly dismayed” at WHO’s Hans Kluge meeting with Sergey Lavrov, given that Russia has “systematically violated international humanitarian law,” including more than 1,700 attacks on health care facilities, she posted on X.

Mar 11, 2025 | politico.eu | Rory O’Neill |Helen Collis |Claudia Chiappa |Mari Eccles

Belgium was the architect of a European plan to tackle chronic drug shortages. But it views the EU's long-awaited fix announced Tuesday as a letdown. Even before the European Commission presented its Critical Medicines Act — which focuses on an overhaul of procurement rules and subsidies to boost domestic drugs production — the country's health minister lamented that the proposal “does not meet the gravity” of Europe’s supply crisis.

Jan 31, 2025 | politico.eu | Helen Collis

France is leading a charge against an EU proposal to merge Europe’s health crisis authority with its civil protection unit over fears it will downgrade the bloc’s ability to respond in a health emergency. Europe’s Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) was set up in 2021 to better anticipate health threats and respond effectively to them.

Jan 29, 2025 | politico.eu | Helen Collis |Giedre Peseckyte

Bird flu poses an increasing pandemic threat as it becomes more adaptive, jumping to humans, pets and zoo animals, Europe’s disease and food agencies warned on Wednesday. They are urging countries to step up their surveillance and containment measures to prevent the virus from continuing to evolve and become more dangerous to people. “In 2024, avian influenza viruses expanded their reach, infecting previously unaffected species.

Oct 24, 2024 | politico.eu | Mari Eccles |Helen Collis |Rory O’Neill |Giedre Peseckyte

European health groups could be facing an existential threat as the European Commission plans to cut grants by 50 percent next year, people familiar with the plan are warning. The EU executive is expected to halve the amount it will provide health non-governmental organizations (NGOs) for running costs such as staff salaries, rent, conferences and travel, according to two people briefed on the plan and a memo circulated among civil society groups and seen by POLITICO.