PHSSR European Union Investing in Health 2025

19 Investing in Health for a Competitive, Secure, and Resilient Europe: A Strategic Call to Action The Partnership for Health System Sustainability and Resilience� Create an interservice group on health funding across Directorate-Generals (including DG SANTE, DG HERA, DG REGIO, DG ECHO, and the Reform and Investment Task Force) in order to: – Ensure regular and systematic exchange of information between different EU directorates involved in health-related funding, to support the implementation of a unified EU strategy for investments in public health and health systems. – Promote policy integration and cross-sectoral cooperation, aligned with a broader EU strategy on investments in public health and health systems. – Enhance coherence between policy objectives and financial mechanisms, and identify and address overlaps or gaps in funding allocation. – Contribute to accountability and transparency by producing annual reports on the implementation and performance of the EU health investment strategy, integrated into the Annual Management and Performance Report for the EU Budget. 2.A.2 Ensure that EU-level benchmarks and targets are clearly defined and utilised to support goal setting, monitor progress, and enhance accountability in health policy implementation Establishing clear and measurable benchmarks and targets provides a powerful tool for driving progress by aligning efforts towards shared objectives, enhancing coordination across stakeholders, and creating both urgency and accountability.56 Past experiences have demonstrated how benchmarks and targets can be aligned to key objectives in health. For example, current benchmarks in health include the mutually recognised health workforce qualification based on harmonised minimum training requirements, which provides a standard for health professionals while supporting cross-border mobility.57 An association of imaging and radiotherapy equipment manufacturers, supported by the European Society of Radiology, has set ‘Golden Rules’ for access to medical equipment across EU member states.58,59 Existing targets in health include the European Pillar of Social Rights ‘Social Scoreboard’, which monitors Member State progress across key indicators including healthy life years at age 65, out-of- pocket expenditure on healthcare, and self-reported unmet need for medical care.60 Another target has been set under the Commission’s Digital Decade policy programme, which includes a target of having 100% of EU citizens’ medical records available online by 2030.61 Cross-country targets have also been implemented in certain priority areas, including prevention and communicable diseases. The EBCP defines several targets, such as fully vaccinating 90% of the EU target population of girls against human papillomaviruses and developing a new EU Cancer Screening Scheme to offer breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening to 90% of the target population by 2025.62 Specific projects have been launched with EU funding to support the implementation of these targets.63 Looking at antimicrobial resistance, the European Commission and the ECDC established an EU target for Member States to reduce antibiotic use by 20% by 2030.64 However, without a defined mechanism to support implementation, progress has been lacking: no decreasing trends in antibiotic use between 2019 and 2023 could be detected at the EU level overall or for any individual EU Member State.65 The ECDC highlighted that greater intervention tailored to local challenges is needed to support progress towards these targets, particularly in Member States that are lagging.66 There may be useful lessons to be learned from success in other sectors: in contrast to the challenges experienced in meeting the human antibiotic use target, Member States are on track to meet reduction targets for antimicrobial use in animals.67 Monitoring of progress, including intermediate outcomes, could facilitate an evidence-based approach to the adaptation and refinement of policies, identifying barriers to progress and responding to evolving needs.