We developed a strategy on blood safety and self-sufficiency. We launched reports and studies on health status, and on developments in health systems. EU public health activities have to be seen in the context of all this other work. This active role in policy development is very much a response to the Treaty obligation that health protection requirements should be an integral part of other EU policies. Another important point is that public health policy is inextricably linked to policy on the development of health systems.
Public health aims to maintain and improve the health of entire populations or population subgroups.
By tackling health determinants and health status, it can have a large influence on the distribution of resources for, and the organisation of, health systems. By the same token, public health policy has to deal with the cost-effectiveness of the health systems themselves, and how well specific health interventions in prevention and treatment work. It is clear that the provision and financing of health care is a matter for Member States. Yet an EU policy on public health which ignored the development and effectiveness of health systems would be wholly inadequate. And it would fail to fulfil the Treaty objective of contributing to a high level of health protection.