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

This proposal for a decision was approved by the European Parliament with the following amendments: - the programme should cover the period from 1 January 1996 to 31 December 2000 rather than from 1 January 1995 to 31 December 1999 and should take account of various past or current measures implemented in the Member States by the relevant authorities or other agencies involved in health policy; - as regards coordination with other Community measures in the same area, this programme should take account of Community measures which impact on health in the education, training and safety at work sectors; - the European Parliament should be consulted with the same status as the committee set up by the Commission to decide on the measures to be implemented under the programme. The Commission should take greater account of the opinion of the European Parliament when applying these measures; - cooperation with NGOs and other organisations working in the health sector should be encouraged when applying this programme; - in the annexes, emphasis has been placed on promoting and supporting programmes in various areas: health research (BIOMED), launching a European study programme designed to harmonise scientific data in Europe, supporting transnational networks of public health reference centres (especially networks of doctors and pharmacies), supporting charitable or official NGOs providing information to the elderly and to women, supporting action to combat nicotinism (in cooperation with the social partners), supporting action to combat accidents in the home, AIDS, cancer and drug addiction by strengthening education and training and supporting action directed at the most disadvantaged persons or persons living in poor circumstances (persons "at risk" such as the homeless or immigrants). Measures to promote good practices need to be launched along these lines: basic hygiene, early screening of illnesses, regular vaccination campaigns, rational use of medication and self-medication.�