Speaking to the press today, Dr Marc Sprenger, head of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control in Stockholm, said Europeans’ failure to get at least 95% of their children vaccinated against measles had resulted in an epidemic in the EU which had also spread to North and Central America. Dr Sprenger urged “sometimes indolent” doctors to take responsibility and make sure children were vaccinated twice: “People may not trust politicians, but they do trust doctors and nurses.”

FoodDrinkEurope today hosted its fourth annual Nanotechnology Stakeholder Dialogue meeting on “Potential applications of nanotechnologies in the food industry’’. In light of the anticipated benefits that nanotechnologies could offer to consumers and society in the field of food safety, quality, nutrition and benefits for the environment, this is an obvious area of interest and exploration for Europe’s food and drink manufacturing industry.

Nursing care in Europe faces a number of simultaneous crises, EHFG President Günther Leiner told the closing EHFG press conference today. While the demographic pyramid became ever more lopsided, there was a shortage of care staff to look after Europe’s ageing and ailing population. Nor were there enough resources to pay for such care, or – often – any guarantee that standards could be maintained. The proceeds of the transaction tax proposed by the European Commission could be used to fill the gap, he said. 

Decision-makers and public transport sector representatives gathered in Gothenburg on 5-7 October for the UITP Conference ‘Urban Governance: Getting people on board’ with the aim of identifying new governance approaches to guarantee sustainable future urban mobility. Integrating public transport and sustainable mobility in urban planning and policies is critical for cities if they are to make cost savings (for individuals and the community), protect the environment and make urban space more liveable and enjoyable.

Health costs are already swallowing up 10% of GDP in the OECD countries, with a 4% year-on-year increase in the EU. The already aged European population has a life expectancy that is growing by a year every four years. And there is an economic crisis. Small wonder that Health Technology Assessment (HTA) is becoming a key tool for determining the safety, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness of therapies and technologies. Such assessments can be pivotal to decisions about whether diagnostic/ treatment costs are reimbursed.