Men’s Health Policy and the European Commission

Erick SavoyeDirector European Men’s Health Forum

Men’s health is everythingMen’s Health Forum Scotland National Conference 19 Sep 2006, Hilton Glasgow Hotel

2Men’s health is everythingMen’s Health Forum Scotland National Conference 19 Sep 2006, Hilton Glasgow Hotel

Growing recognition of men’s health

International men’s health associative movement

Health Professionals

– UEMO, WONCA, EFN, EAU

– Professional press

Public awareness

– IMHW

– Media coverage

3Men’s health is everythingMen’s Health Forum Scotland National Conference 19 Sep 2006, Hilton Glasgow Hotel

The European Men’s Health Forum

Network coordination / policy influencing

Main partners

– Commission (DG Sanco, DG EMPL)

– European Parliament

– Permanent representations

– Health-related umbrella organisations

– Network members a national level

4Men’s health is everythingMen’s Health Forum Scotland National Conference 19 Sep 2006, Hilton Glasgow Hotel

Our EU policy objectives

To raise awareness with EU stakeholders

To promote considerations for men’s health in EU policy debates

To foster Community investment in research, information, promotion and prevention projects

To provide policy support to national partners in their own mission to improve men’s health

5Men’s health is everythingMen’s Health Forum Scotland National Conference 19 Sep 2006, Hilton Glasgow Hotel

EU public health policy and gender

Gender mainstreaming at the highest level

– Gender mainstreaming (Beijing,1995)

– UN, UNESCO, World Bank …

WHO

– Dept Gender, Women and Health

– Madrid Declaration (1995)

– Intl. Gender & Health Conference (2003)

EU

– Amsterdam Treaty, 1997

– Gender Impact Assessment tool

6Men’s health is everythingMen’s Health Forum Scotland National Conference 19 Sep 2006, Hilton Glasgow Hotel

… bringing men’s health into the debate

Gender or women?

Gender mainstreaming in relation to health still conceptual:equality vs. equity

Assessing the impact on men of this approach remains problematic

Political correctness: women’s right issues

7Men’s health is everythingMen’s Health Forum Scotland National Conference 19 Sep 2006, Hilton Glasgow Hotel

Working with EU institutions

Limited institutional knowledgeabout men’s health issues

EMHF grass root representation?

The constraints of the principle of subsidiarity for policy priorities

Country and European level infrastructure required to make effective policy contributions

Fighting the stigma of industry funding (transparency, independence)

8Men’s health is everythingMen’s Health Forum Scotland National Conference 19 Sep 2006, Hilton Glasgow Hotel

Key achievements

Launch first European report

Byrne reflection process

European Health Forum Gastein

Gender in 2007-2013 Community Action Plan

Commission official recognition of EMHFas a key partner

Key Commission stakeholders to include gender in their policy contributions (e.g. EPF)

9Men’s health is everythingMen’s Health Forum Scotland National Conference 19 Sep 2006, Hilton Glasgow Hotel

The Vienna Declaration

Recognise men’s health as a distinct and important issue Develop a better understanding of men’s attitudes to health Invest in ‘male sensitive’ approaches to providing healthcare Initiate work on health for boys and young men in school and

community settings Develop co-ordinated health and social policies that promote

men’s health.

We the undersigned … call on the EU, national governments, providers of health services and other relevant bodies to:

Declaration for the healthof men and boys in EuropeEMHF conference, Vienna - Oct 2005

10Men’s health is everythingMen’s Health Forum Scotland National Conference 19 Sep 2006, Hilton Glasgow Hotel

A great support … and growing

DG Sanco Commissioner Kyprianou

Department of Health England

Many international associations of health professionals and patient advocates

National agencies and organisations

100s of individuals

Across Europe and internationally

11Men’s health is everythingMen’s Health Forum Scotland National Conference 19 Sep 2006, Hilton Glasgow Hotel

Pursuing our focus

Maximising the benefitsof the Declaration

New European partnerships and political alliances

EU Presidencies: Finland, Portugal

Closer work with the Commission through the EU Health Policy Forum

Generating clear benefits from policy involvement for members and partnersat national and local levels