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Future of Healthcare in Europe exhibition officially inaugurated by MEP Liz Lynne

7 January 2009

Future of Healthcare in Europe exhibition officially inaugurated by MEP Liz Lynne

On 7 January 2009, MEP Liz Lynne officially opening the Health First Europe healthcare care exhibition in the European Parliament. MEP Lynne is hosting the weeklong event covering a range of topics including Healthcare Associated Infections (such as MRSA), needlestick injuries and patient rights in relation to cross border healthcare.

MEP Lynne, who is Vice- President of the Employment and Social Affairs Committee and Co-Chair of MEPs against Cancer, said during the opening statement that “Health First Europe is a hugely important organisation doing good work in helping represent the opinions and needs of patients, healthcare professionals and medical academics and experts from across the European Union”.

The exhibition covers a large range of healthcare issues such as patient safety, healthcare associated infections, quality of standards, access to treatment and healthcare professionals’ working conditions. The aim of the exhibition is to raise awareness about the future challenges faced by the healthcare sector in Europe.

MEP Lynne commented that “Whilst healthcare is not a direct competence of the EU, nor in my opinion should it be, it is crucial that all EU Member States continue to work together to improve healthcare in every European country and I hope that Health First Europe will continue to play a pivotal role in helping the EU in this endeavour.”

In her view, there are many issues that are a major problem for all EU countries, noting in particular that “Healthcare Associated Infections such as MRSA and C. difficile are still a major problem in many European countries, including the UK. If we are to tackle this issue and prevent some of the avoidable deaths from these infections then it is crucial we look at those EU countries, such as Sweden and Finland, who have had much greater success in stamping out these infections.”

Health First Europe is a non- profit organisation made up of patients, healthcare professionals and medical academics and experts. They are focused on ensuring that every European citizen is entitled to the very highest healthcare standards.

For further information, you can visit HFE’s website www.healthfirsteurope.org

Health First Europe Secretariat
214d Chaussée de Wavre, 1050 Bruxelles, Belgium
Tel: +32(0)2 626.19.99
Fax: +32(0)2 626.95.01
info@healthfirsteurope.org
www.healthfirsteurope.org

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