PHSSR European Union Investing in Health 2025

vii Investing in Health for a Competitive, Secure, and Resilient Europe: A Strategic Call to Action The Partnership for Health System Sustainability and ResilienceTable 1: Key recommendations from the PHSSR Expert Advisory Group PILLAR A: OBJECTIVE SETTING AND PRIORITISATION OF FUNDING FOR HEALTH A.1 Adopt an aligned EU investment strategy for health to facilitate a cohesive and strategic funding approach that supports the objectives of the European Health Union� Establish joint priorities in areas of health with added value at the EU level and greatest unmet need in prevention, treatment, and aftercare. � Develop a comprehensive EU strategy for investments in public health and health systems that is explicitly guided by EU health policy objectives. � Create an inter-service group on health funding across Directorate-Generals (including DG SANTE, DG HERA, DG REGIO, DG ECHO, and the Reform and Investment Task Force). 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� Leverage programme-level key performance indicators (KPIs) and benchmarks to monitor implementation, adapt to evolving policy priorities, and minimise inefficiencies. � Utilise EU-level targets to track Member State progress towards shared strategic objectives. � Strengthen engagement with key stakeholders to enhance accountability, support knowledge exchange, and develop structured pathways for achieving targets. � Develop a comprehensive set of crisis preparedness benchmarks for EU public health systems. � Ensure the implementation of resilience stress tests for public health systems. A.3 Prioritise health within the new MFF and leverage synergies with other EU priorities� Ensure health continues to be a major priority in the next MFF, with a dedicated, ring-fenced fund and a verifiable target for financing for health, which are aligned to a coherent EU health investment strategy and retain funding levels for health at least at the current allocations provided across different funding programmes. � Maintain sufficient funding for the operational capacity of EU health agencies, including the European Medicines Agency, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, and the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority, to ensure continued health protection for all EU citizens. � Integrate health systematically with other EU priorities to improve EU multisector collaboration in supporting health systems, promoting synergies with policy areas such as defence, competitiveness, digital transformation, and the green transition. � Safeguard EU health investments through multiannual budget indexation, protecting health investments from erosion due to emerging fiscal pressures.