What's new

The European Union (EU) is entering a crucial period for health policy. The 2024-2029 term will shape how the EU responds to ongoing and new health challenges. Aging populations, rising chronic diseases, and mental health concerns are straining healthcare systems while advancements in medical research, digital health, and pharmaceutical innovation are accelerating. At the same time, the lingering effects of past crises, particularly COVID-19, have exposed both strengths and weaknesses in EU health systems—highlighting gaps in preparedness, medicine shortages, and workforce limitations. While coordination between EU institutions and national governments played a key role in crisis response, it also underscored the limits of subsidiarity in health policy.