The EU Health Programme aims to improve the level of physical and mental health and wellbeing of EU citizens and reduce health inequalities across the EU. It is intended to complement EU member countries' health policies by providing support for public health initiatives, with a particular focus on preventative actions and health promotion.
The Programme provides co-financing for innovative projects, conferences, and specialised networks or bodies in the field of public health. Its objectives are to:
- improve citizens' health security
- promote health, including the reduction of health inequalities;
- generate and disseminate health information and knowledge.
The total budget for the Programme for the period 2008-2013 is EUR 321.5 million. This is divided between annual work programmes and 'calls for proposals' which set the priorities and financial allocation for a specific year, and outline particular actions which the European Commission is aiming to support.
Call for projects now open!
Opportunities are now available to apply for EU funding under the European Commission’s Health Programme.
Thematic areas available for funding fall under the three objectives listed above. More specifically, they include actions to address:
- Communicable diseases
- Patient safety
- Health promotion and reduction of health inequalities
- Children and young people
- Alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs
- Nutrition and Physical Activity
- Sexual health and HIV/ AIDS
- Major and chronic diseases and rare diseases
- Healthy environments
- Exchange and dissemination of health information
The NHS European Office has prepared a summary which gives more information about the 2010 Work Programme. The total budget available for the execution of the 2010 Work Plan is 47.1 million euro, with 13.4 million euro specifically set aside to support projects. Other actions eligible for funding include joint actions, tenders, operating grants and tenders.
NHS organisations interested in participating in a project application should consider that applications must not exceed 3 years, must emphasise added value to public health within the European Union as a whole, and have a minimum of 3 partners from 3 different Member States. In addition they should consider gender and health inequalities, and relevance to the European Commission’s health research programme.
The deadline for submission of proposals is 19 March 2010.
The call for projects sets out detailed information about project requirements, and how to apply.