Health observation and health reporting in Europe.

The need and demand for comparable comprehensive health data and health information is growing in Europe. Many countries have intensified development of their health information systems and health reporting. The World Health Organization (WHO), the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and other international organizations collect health data and publish comparative health reports. The European Union (EU) has initiated several new activities to improve health statistics and to develop health monitoring. Sometimes they overlap with other international activities. Also, EU Agencies have been set up in several health related fields. EU public health programmes on specified health problems also monitor health. The Health Monitoring Programme (HMP) adopted in 1997 is intended to pave the way for permanent EU health monitoring. After an unfortunate delay, the first HMP decisions to fund projects were made in July 1998. A feasibility analysis resulting in proposals for the organization of EU health monitoring was carried out in 1997. Other recent developments in the EU are the establishment of a communicable disease network, and the Commission's communication on future public health policy. The Amsterdam Treaty attaches more importance to public health. Much work needs to be done before a coherent EU health monitoring system can be put in place. The current momentum must be used to speed up positive developments. The HMP should support projects which pave the way for permanent EU health monitoring and its work should be clearly prioritised. Also, the expertise in health monitoring and the ability to steer the HMP and related EU developments should be strengthened. This can best be done by close collaboration with experienced expert institutes from the Member States, and by collaboration with WHO and OECD.