Public health: Community action programme on health promotion, information, education and training 1996-2000

In its amended proposal, the Commission took over 23 of the 43 amendments tabled by the European Parliament at first reading as they stood or in a modified form. The main amendments related to the following points: - the programme would cover the period from 1 January 1996 to 31 December 2000; - it should take account of the past or current actions implemented in the Member States by the relevant authorities or other bodies involved in health policy (including organisations or agencies active in this sector); - as regards cooperation with other Community actions, the programme should take account of actions affecting health in the areas of education, training, and health and safety at work; - as regards support for the actions (annex): emphasis was placed on the coordination of the work carried out in the Member States. Further details were provided with regard to actions aimed at: . identifying better the socio-economic and cultural differences affecting health, . developing transnational networks of reference centres for documentation on health, . promoting, at Member State level, greater integration of health education in school curricula and health education for adults, . supporting training for health professionals (early detection of diseases and information on the use of medicines), . helping disadvantaged groups (migrants, the elderly, young people from less-favoured areas, etc.), . improving the public's awareness of the importance of a healthy diet, the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, the effects of alcohol, the benefits of physical activity, diseases linked to age, and the rational use of medicines; - with regard to comitology and the annual allocation of appropriations, the Commission adhered to the text of its initial proposal pending the provisions adopted at interinstitutional level. �