Yesterday, the European Commission launched an important initiative to support EU Member States to reduce the burden of EU Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) by addressing the leading causes of avoidable premature death in Europe and improving citizens’ health and well-being. To do so, the Commission has published a guiding document to the “Healthier Together: EU Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) Initiative”.

This Initiative identifies effective actions and the available legal and financial supporting tools across five main areas: cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases, mental health and neurological disorders, as well as their main contributing factors. The Initiative will have a budget of €156 million under the 2022 work programme of the EU4Health programme.

As a member of the European Chronic Disease Alliance, EAACI has provided strong support for this initiative in the areas of common determinants of health, air quality and food safety and respiratory chronic diseases (asthma, allergic rhinitis, chronic rhinosinusitis) and will continue to lobby for the expansion of the main areas of interest to other chronic allergic diseases.

Ioana Agache, EAACI Past President