PHSSR European Union Investing in Health 2025

13 Investing in Health for a Competitive, Secure, and Resilient Europe: A Strategic Call to Action The Partnership for Health System Sustainability and ResilienceWith funding for health available through multiple financing mechanisms, there is no explicit total funding allocation for health. Although the flagship fund dedicated to health, EU4Health, accounts for €4.4 billion, the cumulative EU funding directed towards health is more substantial. Between three of the key EU funding mechanisms alone, over €22 billion in EU funds is planned to address health-related objectives in 2021-2027 (see Figure 2). Figure 2: Magnitude of EU funding for health in 2021-2027 CRA analysis; a further €42 billion is allocated to investments in healthcare under the Recovery and Resilience Facility36,37,38,39 A strong rationale for joint EU actions Health systems in the EU are confronted with a range of systemic challenges, including existing and emerging health threats, climate change, socioeconomic disparities, geopolitical tensions, migration, and shortages of medicinal products and medical devices.40 Profound demographic shifts and the growing burden of NCDs will further amplify these challenges in years to come under the strain of budgetary pressures that increasingly threaten the sustainability of our health systems. These shared challenges are among the key areas where there is added value in EU-level action and a strong rationale for EU investment in health. The socioeconomic burden of NCDs is staggering, accounting for 80% of the disease burden in the EU, which is exacerbated by persistent inequalities across Member States.41 The economic consequences of cancer alone are estimated at €100 billion per year in Europe, and it is estimated that Member States lose the equivalent of 1.1 million full-time workers per year through cancer’s impact on productivity and workforce participation.42 Communicable diseases represent a shared threat to EU health security—a reality starkly illustrated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This necessitates strengthened EU-level surveillance and preparedness, supported by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA). Emerging geopolitical challenges and climate-related risks (including natural disasters) may bring new threats to health, further strengthening the case to build resilient health systems and secure the EU’s access to medicines and medical technologies.43