EU policy on health in developing countries

saf0096 Improving health in developing countries is essential to reduce poverty and achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) , three of which directly relate to health:

- reducing child mortality,
- reducing maternal mortality,
- the fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria.

EU policy on health and poverty reduction in developing countries focuses on:

helping developing countries to strengthen their healthcare systems
providing specific support for action on the main public health challenges in developing countries.

Key aspects of health systems

Health workers

The EU has taken action to address the critical shortage of health workers in developing countries:

Progress so far: implementation report

The EU has also earmarked €40m under its Investing in people programme to supplement its action in the different countries concerned.

Financing and social health protection

Different EU countries have been actively supporting action to provide social health protection and finance health systems in developing countries since 2002.

A range of options for joint EU action in this area was as set out in a Social health protection and health-care financing in developing countries (2008) by the EU's French Presidency and the Commission in 2008.
The Commission has also organized a consultation workshop with a broad range of stakeholders from developing countries, EU member states and civil society on 23/24 March 2009.

Public health challenges

EU action to improve public health in developing countries focuses on:

communicable diseases HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria ( Action programme )
Sexual and reproductive health and rights .
There is also a growing need to address non-communicable diseases and lifestyle health risks (tobacco and alcohol).

Funding and support

EU funding is provided through:

country cooperation strategies
the Investing in people programme

The EU also works through key partnerships: