Congress report - European Health Forum Gastein

Plenary Session III
Health across other policies
David BYRNE
Dr. Leiner, Ministers, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am delighted to have been invited back to Bad Gastein, to address this notable forum on
health issues, in this unusually healthy conference setting. As in previous years, I understand
that your deliberations have again provided decision-makers and advocates alike, with a
breath of fresh mountain air on these complex public policy issues. And I would like to thank
Dr. Leiner, and his team for facilitating this impressive meeting of minds. I am pleased and
indeed reassured to note that all this has been achieved in close cooperation with the
Austrian State Secretary for Health Mr. Waneck, and with our close friends at the WHO under
Dr. Marc Danzon's ever watchful eye.
I don’t know whether Dr. Leiner possesses a crystal-ball, or whether you have a unique
insight into the mind of the European Court of Justice. Because your choice of Health Across
other Policies as our theme is extremely timely. By the way, if either case is true, I would
welcome any future tips! Because within a matter of months, the theme of "Integrating
Health across Policies" has moved centre-stage for European policymakers. The sequence of
events is familiar to you all. Whether one looks back on the Göteborg Summit, the Global
Access to Drugs debate, or the more recent European Court of Justice Rulings - a year has
been a very long time in the politics of health. And without even venturing to include the
Charter of Fundamental Rights - I think it is fair to say that we are entering uncharted
territory. At this point, we find ourselves on the threshold of a new approach to health
issues in the life of our Community. And it is now up to our collective political imaginations
to map out the future.
In addressing the theme of Health in other policies, I would like to look at this issue in three
key respects. First, the importance of Health issues as part of the debate about Governance.
Secondly, how health can become a driver of community policies - rather than a sideshow.
And finally, some preliminary reflections about the future role of Health issues in the
unfolding evolution of European integration.
1. Health and Governance
To understand the importance of health in other policies, we need to see the broader
political horizon which it evokes. Indeed, we need to reflect on the important link between
effective health policy and good governance in the minds of our citizens. Placing health at
the centre of other policies is a significant political challenge. And how we respond to this
challenge in the years to come, will affect not only the machinery of health policy, but the
health of our political machinery. This will affect decision-makers at European, national,
regional and local levels. And it will directly impact upon our traditions of social cohesion
and effective government in the coming years.
In looking at the issue of health in other policies, we need to accept right from the outset,
that the political stakes are high. We must recognise, that our success or failure in
responding to the health policy concerns of our citizens in whichever sector they may arise,
will have a wider impact on the health of our systems of governance.
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