67 Amendments of Tomislav SOKOL related to 2023/2075(INI)
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 a (new)
Citation 6 a (new)
Amendment 16 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 12 a (new)
Citation 12 a (new)
– having regard to the European Parliament resolution of 12 July 2023 on the COVID-19 pandemic: lessons learned and recommendations for the future’ (2022/2076(INI))
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are diseases that are not passed from person to person; whereas non-communicable diseases (NCD’s) cause 90 % of all deaths in the EU4 , and their prevalence continues to grow across the EU; whereas NCDs cause a great burden on people living with NCDs and their families, healthcare systems and national budgets; _________________ 4 World Health Organization, ‘Monitoring noncommunicable disease commitments in Europe 2021’, 8 December 2021.
Amendment 59 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas premature deaths as a result of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), cancers, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases account for 68 % of all premature deaths in Europe; whereas other NCDs include mental and neurological disorders, kidney diseases, oral diseases, osteoporosis, osteoarthritisliver and gastrointestinal diseases, oral diseases, rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs), and endometriosis among other conditions;
Amendment 76 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas NCDs account for the largest share of countries’ healthcare expenditures, costing EU economies EUR 115 billion, or 0.8 % of GDP annually as well as entailing other societal costs such as loss of productivity and workforce; all of which could be reduced through the implementation of measures aimed at increasing the early detection and optimal management of NCDs; whereas in 2018, no more than 2.8 % of total health expenditure in the EU was spent on prevention, whereas the costs of treating NCDs remains high5 ; _________________ 5 European Commission, ‘Healthier together – EU non-communicable diseases initiative’, p. 15, June 2022.
Amendment 83 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the increasing burden of NCDs on individuals and societies and the health needs of ageing populations represent challenges to the health systems of the Member States, which require the development of specific NCD prevention, detection and treatment policies contributing to healthy ageing;
Amendment 97 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas, according to Article 168 TFEU, the European Union can play primarily a cooperative and complimentary role with regard to healthcare, while health at its core constitutes a national competence;
Amendment 108 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas most NCDs are impacted by fourthe interplay of several preventable risk factors, including: tobacco use, unhealthy diet, lack of physical activity and harmful use of alcohol; whereas behavioural risk factors lead to biological risk factors, the most common being overweight and obesity, high blood pressure, high blood glucose and high blood cholesterol6 ; _________________ 6 World Health Organization, ‘Monitoring noncommunicable disease commitments in Europe 2021’, p. 13, 8 December 2021.
Amendment 143 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
Fa. whereas chronic inflammation plays a role in contributing to the development and progression of NCDs, including CVDs, RMDs, diabetes, cancer, and neurodegenerative disorders among others;
Amendment 160 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas improved evidence-based health promotion and disease preventionprimary and secondary disease prevention, including targeted early detection, can reduce the prevalence of NCDs by as much as 70 %7 ; _________________ 7 European Commission, ‘Healthier together – EU non-communicable diseases initiative’, p. 15, June 2022.
Amendment 179 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas innovation with regard to development of technologies, medicines and healthcare practises is crucial to ensure the elimination or reduction of harm caused by preventable risk factors, early detection, integration of care, improved disease management, and new and better treatments for NCDs;
Amendment 207 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Highlights that NCDs account for 90 % of all deaths in the EU8 , most of which are preventable and which leads to high levels of productivity loss and makes NCDs account for the largest share of countries’ healthcare expenditures; stresses that it is important to reduce the prevalence of NCDs andthrough early diagnosis and screening, including through the implementation of integrated health checks, especially for at-risk individuals, at the primary care level and through better disease management; believes that enhanced health promotion and disease prevention can reduce the prevalence of NCDs by 70 %9 in conjunction with investment in health innovation and technologies; _________________ 8 European Commission, ‘Non- communicable diseases : overview’. 9 European Commission, ‘The EU ‘Healthier Together’ Non-Communicable Diseases Initiative’, 2022
Amendment 224 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Welcomes the Healthier together – EU non-communicable diseases (NCD) initiative, Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, EU4Health work programme and the Commission Communication entitled ‘A comprehensive approach to mental health’; calls on the Commission to strengthen the ‘Healthier together – EU NCD’ initiative by introducing a holistic EU strategy on NCDs complemented by action plans for specific NCDs; welcomes national plans and actions already taken against NCDs by Member States, and calls on the European Commission to facilitate knowledge sharing and the scale up of good practices introduced by existing national plans across other Member States;
Amendment 225 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Welcomes the Healthier together – EU non-communicable diseases (NCD) initiative, Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, EU4Health work programme and the Commission Communication entitled ‘A comprehensive approach to mental health’; calls on the Commission to strengthen the ‘Healthier together – EU NCD’ initiative by introducing a holistic EU strategy on NCDs complemented by action plans for specific NCDs; welcomes national plans and actions already taken against NCDs by Member States; believes however that a special cardiovascular strategy is needed in the light of cardiovascular disease being the number one cause of death in the Union;
Amendment 235 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Acknowledges that social, economic, cultural, and commercial determinants of health, and health inequities increase the risk of NCDs and underlines the need to create favourable conditions that address these factors; emphasizes the importance of a more robust implementation of the Health in All Policies principle, in dialogue with the public health community, and with thorough consideration of the health impacts of sectoral policies;
Amendment 265 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Acknowledges the complex and multifactorial causes of NCDs and that NCDs cannot always be prevented, and that even among preventable NCDs, there are many cases that cannot be explained by preventable risk factors and that many NCDs display a high degree of hereditary risk;
Amendment 295 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – point a
Paragraph 5 – point a
a. implement measures to help tobacco users quit, reduce the rate of new tobacco users, and prevent tobacco use among minors;
Amendment 318 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – point b a (new)
Paragraph 5 – point b a (new)
Amendment 393 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 – introductory part
Paragraph 8 – introductory part
8. Notes that an unhealthy diet is one of the major risk factors for NCDs, including obesity, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes and other conditions linked to obesity15, chronic kidney disease, liver, pancreas and other gastrointestinal diseases ; acknowledges that obesity is considered a risk factor for several NCDs; calls on the Commission and the Member States to: _________________ 15 World Health Organization Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, ‘Noncommunicable diseases’.
Amendment 399 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 – point a
Paragraph 8 – point a
a. encourage and help consumers to make informed and healthy choices about food products; promote behavioural changes via communication and mass media campaigns for healthy diets; encourage public food procurement and service policies for healthy and sustainable diets; notes that the Mediterranean diet is known as a healthy, balanced diet that plays a protective role in the primary and secondary prevention of the main chronic degenerative diseases;
Amendment 402 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 – point a
Paragraph 8 – point a
a. encourage and help consumers to make informed and healthy choices about food products; promote behavioural changes via communication and mass media campaigns for healthy diets; encourage public food procurement and service policies for healthy and sustainable diets; mainstream physical activities such as walking, cycling, and the practice of sports in urban planning, and put an increased emphasis on physical activity in schools;
Amendment 428 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 – point b
Paragraph 8 – point b
b. propose a Nnew Action Plan for child obesitycomprehensive and integrated Action Plan for child obesity, with clear biding targets, benchmarks, indicators and mechanisms to monitor and ensure advancements;
Amendment 434 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 – point b a (new)
Paragraph 8 – point b a (new)
ba. recommends the EU Member States to adopt the WHO guidelines on healthy diet by all European countries, as part of a shared commitment to address the burden of Non-Communicable Disease;
Amendment 438 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 – point b b (new)
Paragraph 8 – point b b (new)
Amendment 442 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 – point b c (new)
Paragraph 8 – point b c (new)
bc. promote behavioural changes via communication, and media campaigns for healthy diets and encourage public food procurement and service policies for healthy and sustainable diets;
Amendment 448 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 – point b d (new)
Paragraph 8 – point b d (new)
bd. propose the implementation of taxation on unhealthy foods and sugary beverages, while subsidizing affordable access to minimally processed nutritious foods for socioeconomically disadvantaged populations;
Amendment 459 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Highlights the role of physical activity in NCD prevention and welcomes Commission’s HealthLifestyle4All initiative; calls on the Commission and Member States to promote physical activity and awareness campaigns to prevent NCDs; recognizes that improving population lifestyle choices is not enough to tackle the burden of NCDs, and while primary prevention plays a crucial role in reducing the incidence of many types of NCDs, secondary prevention is key for the optimal management of chronic diseases and contributes to reduce the risk of complications, comorbidities and death; stresses that a holistic approach to NCDs care pathways should be reflected in national NCDs plans and strategies, which include clear implementation roadmaps;
Amendment 463 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Calls on the European Commission to develop a holistic action plan on cardiovascular health, including rare cardiovascular diseases and setting forth targets and recommendations to improve the prevention and management of cardiovascular disease and encompassing all different aspects and stages of the disease;
Amendment 467 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 b (new)
Paragraph 9 b (new)
9b. Calls on the European Commission to develop a holistic action plan on diabetes;
Amendment 471 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Considers the European Green Deal to be instrumental in preventing NCDs in the EU by reducing air, food, water and soil pollution and chemical exposure; highlights that prevention of chronic respiratory diseases besides tobacco cessation also includes the prevention of exposure to dust and other indoor pollutant, dangerous chemicals hazard materials including asbestos and other indoor pollutants; calls the Commission and Member States to adopt an EU asbestos elimination plan, which include mandatory screening of asbestos in buildings and the establishment and maintenance of national asbestos registers and calls Member States to develop and publish their national asbestos removal strategies;
Amendment 503 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Stresses that per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) can lead to health problems such as diabetes, obesity and cancer16 ; calls on the Commission to implement the PFAS restriction proposal submitted to European Chemicals Agency on 13 January 202317 ; _________________ 16 European Environment Agency, ‘What are PFAS and how are they dangerous for my health?’. 17 European Chemicals Agency, ‘ECHA publishes PFAS restriction proposal’, 2023.
Amendment 511 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Regrets the slowCalls on the Commission to continuously implementation of the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability, and, in particular, expects the REACH Regulation18 to be revised, including in line with the Better Regulation principles, in order to be able to identify all substances of concern manufactured or imported in the EU; _________________ 18 Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), OJ L 396, 30.12.2006, p. 1.
Amendment 548 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Calls on Member States to develop tailored national plans to address the specificities of different subcategories of NCDs, including specific plans for highly prevalent diseases, with high mortality and morbidity rates, such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and obesity;
Amendment 556 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Highlights the importance of identifying people with a high risk of developing NCDs and diagnosing people as early as possible to improve disease management, prevent complications and save downstream costs for healthcare systems; calls for the systematic exchange at the European level of best practice regarding screening for and early detection of NCDs, such as prostate and cervical cancer; welcomes the updated Council recommendation on cancer screening and calls on Member States to implement it diligently;
Amendment 566 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Highlights the importance of identifying people with a high risk of developing NCDs, such as the elderly population, and diagnosing people as early as possible to improve disease management, prevent complications and save downstream costs for healthcare systems;
Amendment 571 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Welcomes the approval of the 2022 Council Recommendations on Cancer Screening Recommendations in Europe which include comprehensive strategies for earlier detection of breast, cervical, colorectal cancer and extend recommended screenings in Europe for lung, prostate and gastric cancers;
Amendment 582 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Encourages Member States to reduce undiagnosed NCDs by introducing targeted health checks for high-risk individuals addressing the main shared metabolic risk factors, ensuring timely access to high quality care and support NCD patients’ self- management; highlights that digital health technologies and telemedicine are beneficial in the management and disease follow-up of many NCDs;
Amendment 592 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Notes that some NCDs are closely linked such as diabetes and, cardiovascular diseases and obesity are highly interconnected conditions and the interlinks between these conditions exacerbate their respective morbidity and mortality, and that important synergies can be achieved by improving diagnosis and integrated care19 ; _________________ 19 European Commission, ‘Healthier together – EU non-communicable diseases initiative’, p. 30, June 2022.
Amendment 602 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Recommends EU funding support for pan-European public health literacy initiatives, such as the suggestion of creating a European Atlas of Early Warning Signs for Cancer, building on the model for cancer prevention created by the European Code Against Cancer;
Amendment 603 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Highlights the link between oral health, including pariodental disease and caries, and some NCDs, such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, and the potential positive effects on NCDs of improved oral health;
Amendment 621 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Stresses that nurses, doctors, general practitioners and other primary care professionals have a significant role in referring patients for diagnostic tests and treating NCDs; encourages the Member States to empower workforce with appropriate diagnostic tools and to offer training to healthcare professionals to better identify high-risk individuals and treat NCDs;
Amendment 634 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Stresses the importance of cost- effective healthcare, so that limited resources are put to the best use and to the use of patients in most need;
Amendment 650 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Believes that every patient is different and no NCD is the same; notes that for some NCDs, such as obesity, stigma in healthcare settings remains one of the biggest barriers to diagnose early and provide timely care and management services; calls for NCDs to be prevented and treated as effectively as possible, with a personalised and evidence-based approach tailored to the patient and the disease;
Amendment 655 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Believes that every patient is different and no NCD is the same; calls for NCDs to be prevented and treated as effectively as possible, with a personalised approach tailored to the patient and the disease, while taking Member States' need for an efficient organisation of healthcare into account;
Amendment 662 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Notes that NCDs can have a significant negative effect on mental health, and stresses the need for integrated healthcare for concerned patients; stresses that negative stereotypes related to certain NCDs, notably obesity, can be counterproductive in healthcare and prevention while recalling individual responsibility for certain risk factors;
Amendment 670 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Recommends urgent actions, including a Commission level study on the current status and impacts of the EU’s health workforce shortage and increased investment in its availability measuring and mapping exercises at the EU level;
Amendment 683 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 b (new)
Paragraph 19 b (new)
19b. Notes that improving disease management, notably through therapeutic adherence, and reducing complications of NCDs plays a key role in improving health systems’ resilience and preparing for future health crises;
Amendment 691 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 c (new)
Paragraph 19 c (new)
19c. Stresses the urgent need to tackle regional disparities in healthcare access, striving for equitable availability of quality NCD management across diverse geographical areas within Member States;
Amendment 694 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 d (new)
Paragraph 19 d (new)
19d. Takes note of Europe’s increasing healthcare workforce shortages and inadequate skill mix as a threat to the provision of good quality integrated care for NCDs; calls on the Commission and Member States to address the imbalance between the demand and supply of specialised NCD health professionals;
Amendment 699 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 e (new)
Paragraph 19 e (new)
19e. Expresses support for the creation of an EU Network of Comprehensive Cancer Centres, as a good case study for pan European action to improve access to high quality care and to deliver next level cooperation across borders in combating inequalities in access and improved research cooperation;
Amendment 701 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 f (new)
Paragraph 19 f (new)
19f. Calls on Member States to continue investing in innovation in NCDs care, in order to reduce overall morbidity, mortality and the quality of life of patients; calls on the European Union to support these investments through EU funding mechanisms, such as the EU4Health and Horizon Europe programmes;
Amendment 702 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 g (new)
Paragraph 19 g (new)
19g. Calls on Member States to modernise diabetes care, through early diagnosis and timely treatment intensification as per the latest treatment guidelines, avoiding therapeutic inertia and contributing to achieve better health outcome targets, and reducing the risk of costly complications;
Amendment 703 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 h (new)
Paragraph 19 h (new)
19h. Welcomes the "patient-centricity" approach of the Europe's Beating Cancer Plan, and in particular the flagship initiative under the EU4Health 2021-2027 programme to develop a smart card for cancer survivors - in the form of a mobile app - to improve the health and well-being of cancer survivors across Europe;
Amendment 704 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Recalls that patient empowerment and, health literacy, and treatment adherence are crucial for an EU NCD strategy and that treatment and care should be patient- centred; encourages the promotion of well- informed patients who are actively involved in their own treatment and calls for the therapeutic training of caregivers and patients and their empowerment in the care programmes; underlines the importance of therapeutic adherence, in order to lower hospitalisation and mortality rates as well as optimise the impact of medical investments; encourages Member States to provide healthcare professionals with training regarding patient therapeutic education;
Amendment 710 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Highlights that patient stigma should be counteracted and mitigated at the national level;
Amendment 736 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Welcomes the pharmaceutical package and calls for the strengthening of the European medicines market to ensure access to medicines and alleviate medicine shortages, reduce barriers to cross-border business, while strengthening incentives for investment in innovation; underlines that upheld regulatory data protection and intellectual property rights are crucial to ensure competitiveness in the EU by incentivising innovators to develop new products and further ongoing research efforts;
Amendment 756 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Highlights the potential of the private sector with respect to disease control and healthcare; Welcomes public- private partnerships as a way of strengthening innovation in healthcare; highlights the European Health Innovation Collaborative, which promotes entrepreneurship and innovation in the healthcare sector and brings together academia, research, and industry to foster collaboration and investment in health technologies; encourages the Commission and the Member States to foster and accelerate public-private partnerships;
Amendment 759 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23a. Stresses the importance of innovations to improve the detection, diagnosis, management and treatment of NCDs; for instance, the development of high-quality medical technologies has improved clinical and procedural outcomes and quality of life of people living with cardiovascular diseases;
Amendment 771 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Calls on the Commission to strengthen support and investment in the development and uptake of new innovative medical devicediagnostic and therapeutic medical devices and medicinal products; believes that new technologies can lead to new and better treatments for NCDs, as well as quality of life for patients living with NCDs;
Amendment 791 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Believes that improving knowledge and sharing of evidence-based best practices among Member States is needed to accelerate effective prevention measures, such as supporting treatment adherence, and innovative practices;
Amendment 796 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25a. Believes that further economic data collection at national level is needed in order to achieve a better understanding of the associated costs and burden in the Member States;
Amendment 799 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 b (new)
Paragraph 25 b (new)
25b. Calls on the Commission to support treatment adherence and to recognise innovation in the form and dosage of medications, such as fixed- dose-combinations, as an innovative solution that can support patients adhere to their treatments in the long-term;
Amendment 808 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)
Paragraph 26 a (new)
26a. Acknowledges that many chronic diseases can lead to organ failure for which transplantation is the best therapy; notes that the EU action plan on organ donation and transplantation (2009-2015) resulted in a considerable increase in organ donation and transplantation in the EU over its period of implementation; calls on the Commission to establish a second EU action plan on organ donation and transplantation during the 2024-2029 mandate;
Amendment 813 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Calls on the Commission to create a European NCD Health Knowledge Centre to improve data collection and research on NCDs; stresses the need for further research in NCD co-morbidities and managementencourages Member States to exchange best practices on prevention, management and care of NCDs in relevant forums; stresses the need for further research in NCD co-morbidities and management, including treatment adherence; recognises that data collection efforts must target every NCD through a wide range of indicators, such as prevalence, incidence, mortality, health burden and health economics; recognises the potential of interoperable and flexible diabetes data registries in improving quality of care and health outcomes; calls on Member States to put in place NCD- specific data registries;
Amendment 825 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27a. Believes that good quality data and evidence are important and that strengthening the equity elements of existing health monitoring systems, such as European Health Data Space, will support development of evidence-based and targeted policies and interventions for improved health equity;
Amendment 829 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Welcomes the Commission Expert Group on Public Health and the sub-group on NCDs; calls on the Commission to extend the group to patient experts; calls on the Commission to establish a European expert network for prevention and control of NCD co- morbidities and complications, including patient experts ;
Amendment 833 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28a. Recognises that the EU has a role in supporting global health, including in respect to the international rise of NCDs; urges that the EU’s global health strategy therefore include objectives such as supporting the WHO goal of global elimination of cervical cancer, in line with the EU goal of eliminating HPV cancers; additionally recommends that there be a health component to EU Neighbourhood policy, including supporting the inclusion of partner countries within the framework of EU health policy, such as Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan;