First meeting of PES health ministers endorses child guarantee
The first ever gathering of the Party of European Socialists' health ministers has strongly backed the PES Child Guarantee, which seeks to secure free healthcare, adequate nutrition and shelter for all Europe's children.
The meeting took place in Malta at the invitation of Chris Fearne, Maltese Minister for Health, and was chaired by Estonian minister and party leader Jevgeni Ossinovski.
Jevgeni Ossinovski said:
"Health issues, especially those that affect younger generations, are a priority for us. I warmly welcome this new ministerial network, which will lay out our vision for a progressive health agenda in Europe.
"Progressive health ministers fully support the PES's vital initiative to ensure all children have adequate nutrition and free healthcare as part of our flagship Youth Plan."
Ministers also discussed the Europe-wide fight against childhood obesity.
Also in attendance was Vytenis Andriukaitis, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety. After the meeting Commissioner said:
"The PES network of Health Ministers is a great opportunity to coordinate social democratic health policies. I hope that through our cooperation we will be able to promote progressive instruments addressing the biggest public health challenges of today, including child obesity. To succeed, we need to work together across sectors - Health Ministers need to join forces with Ministers for Education, Agriculture, Transport, and Finance, to name just a few."
List of participants:
Jevgeni Ossinovski, Chair, Minister of Healthcare and Labour (Estonia)
Chris Fearne, Minister of Health (Malta)
Adalberto Campos Fernandes, Minister of Health (Portugal)
Florian Dorel Bodog, Minister of Health (Romania)
Lydia Mutsch, Minister for Health and Equal Opportunities (Luxembourg)
Stanislav Spanik, State Secretary in the Ministry of Health (Slovakia)
Gabriel Wikström, Minister of Healthcare, public health and sport (Sweden)
Vytenis Andriukaitis, Commissioner for Health and Food Safety (European Commission)
Soledad Cabezon Ruiz, Member of the European Parliament (S&D Group)
Guest: Michelle Muscat, President, National Alliance for Rare Diseases Support, Malta