48 Amendments of Alessandra MORETTI related to 2023/2075(INI)
Amendment 50 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are diseases that are not passed from person to person; whereas non-communicable diseases (NCD’s)NCDs cause 90 % of all deaths in the EU4 ; _________________ 4 World Health Organization, ‘Monitoring noncommunicable disease commitments in Europe 2021’, 8 December 2021. and their prevalence continues to grow across the EU and cause a great burden on people living with NCDs and their families, healthcare systems and national budgets;
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are diseases that are not passed from person to person; whereas non-communicable diseases (NCD’s) cause 90 % of all deaths in the EU4 and their prevalence continues to grow across the EU; _________________ 4 World Health Organization, ‘Monitoring noncommunicable disease commitments in Europe 2021’, 8 December 2021.
Amendment 62 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas premature deaths as a result of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), cancers, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases account for 68 % of all premature deaths in Europe; whereas other NCDs include mental and neurological disorders, kidney diseases, liver and gastrointestinal diseases, oral diseases, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis and endometriosis among other conditions;
Amendment 63 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas premature deaths as a result of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), cancers, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases account for 68 % of all premature deaths in Europe; whereas other NCDs include mental and neurological disorders, kidney, liver and gastrointestinal diseases, oral diseases, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis and endometriosis among other conditions;
Amendment 82 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the increasing burden of NCDs on individuals and societies and the health needs of ageing populations 40% of which live with multimorbidity represent challenges to the healthcare systems of the Member States, and require the development of specific NCD prevention, detection and treatment policies contributing to healthy ageing;
Amendment 90 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the increasing burden of NCDs on individuals and societies and the health needs of an ageing populations represent challenges to the health systems of the Member States;
Amendment 105 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas most NCDs are impacted by fourcertain preventable risk factors: tobacco use, unhealthy diet, lack of physical activity and harmful use of alcohol and smoking, alcohol consumption, unhealthy diet, environmental factors and pollution, and lack of physical activity; whereas behavioural risk factors lead to biological risk factors, the most common being overweight and obesity, high blood pressure, high blood glucose and high blood cholesterol6 ; _________________ 6 World Health Organization, ‘Monitoring noncommunicable disease commitments in Europe 2021’, p. 13, 8 December 2021.
Amendment 134 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas most NCDs are impacted by environmental risk factors, such as air pollution;indoor and outdoor air pollution, and multiple global environmental changes, including climate change and biodiversity loss
Amendment 136 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas most NCDs are impacted by environmental risk factors such as air pollutionindoor and outdoor air pollution, and multiple global environmental trends, including climate change and biodiversity loss;
Amendment 141 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
Fa. whereas most NCDs are impacted by socioeconomic factors and inequalities, notably disadvantaged socioeconomic status having significantly negative impact on mortality and morbidity caused by NCD;
Amendment 174 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G d (new)
Recital G d (new)
Gd. whereas people living with one or more NCDs were one of the most severely affected population groups during the COVID-19 pandemic;
Amendment 194 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)
Recital H a (new)
Ha. whereas people living with one or more NCDs were one of the most severely affected population groups during the COVID-19 pandemic;
Amendment 209 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Highlights that NCDs account for 90 % of all deaths in the EU8 , which leads to high levels of productivity loss and makes NCDs account for the largest share of countries’ healthcare expendituresbeing therefore one of the most crucial public health challenges in the EU; stresses that it ise important toce ofpreventing and reduceing the prevalence and comorbidities of NCDs and believes that enhanced health promotionbetter and equal access to public healthcare services all across the EU, including prevention and screening services and appropriate treatments and care, together with health promotion initiatives and policies and disease prevention can susbstantially reduce the prevalence of NCDs by 70 %9, in conjunction with investment in research, clinical studies and trials, health innovation, and technologies; _________________ 8 European Commission, ‘Non- communicable diseases : overview’. 9 European Commission, ‘The EU ‘Healthier Together’ Non-Communicable Diseases Initiative’, 2022
Amendment 217 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Recalls the need to consider, together with the health challenges, also the socioeconomic impact of NCD's, which affects the workforce and the overall productivity; recalls that NCDs account for the largest share of countries’ healthcare expenditures and this burden is projected to rise in the near future due to the ageing population, among other factors;
Amendment 229 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Welcomes the Healthier together – EU non-communicable diseases (NCD) initiative, Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, EU4Health work programme and the Commission Communication entitled ‘A comprehensive approach to mental health’; calls on the Commission to strengthen the ‘Healthier together – EU NCD’ initiative by introducing a holistic and integrated EU strategy on NCDs complemented by action plans for specific NCDs with clear targets, benchmarks indicators and mechanisms to monitor progress; welcomes national plans and actions already taken against NCDs by Member States;
Amendment 252 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Acknowledges that tobacco use and smoking, physical inactivity, the harmful use of alcoholalcohol consumption 10a, unhealthy diets and environmental factors such as air, food, water and soil pollution, UV radiation exposure, and chemical exposure substantially increase the risk of NCDs10 ; _________________ 10 https://www.paho.org/en/topics/noncommu nicable-diseases - :~:text=These%204%20groups%20of%20d iseases,of%20the%20response%20to%20N CDs The Pan American Health Organization, ‘Noncommunicable Diseases’. 10a https://www.who.int/europe/news/item/04- 01-2023-no-level-of-alcohol- consumption-is-safe-for-our-health
Amendment 271 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Acknowledges that tobacco use, including second hand smoke, was responsible for 1.6 million deaths in Europe in 2019 and is a high risk factor for developing NCDs such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases and chronic respiratory diseases and calls for an harmonization in the definitions of tobacco and smoking products across EU legislation; notes the significance of second-hand smoke as a public health concern, due to the exposure to carcinogens and its contribution to NCDs, particularly in children, pregnant women and adults; Highlights that 60% of children are exposed to second-hand smoke at home which can lead to sudden infant death syndrome, lower respiratory infections, ear infections, and more severe asthma; Calls for the EU and Member States to invest in campaigns and legislation action (e.g. home smoking bans) in order to create a smoke free environment and raise the first European tobacco-free generation by 2040;
Amendment 279 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Stresses that novel smoking and tobacco products, such as heated tobacco and electronic cigarettes, poses a danger to people's health and are not harmless, with links to many different NCDs such as cancer, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases; recalls that these devices are particularly dangerous towards non- smokers, women and young people such as children and adolescents; asks the Commission to align the restrictions and legislation of these products to the traditional ones in the context of the review of the tobacco legislation, including taxation and the restriction related to smoke-free environments;
Amendment 280 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Recalls that decades of restrictive legislative measures, increased taxation and information campaigns to limit smoking and tobacco consumption have produced concrete results, reduced the number of tobacco consumers and ultimately saved lives; regrets that the results obtained, particularly among the youth and women, are jeopardised by the alarming increase in the use of novel tobacco products and electronic smoking devices; urges the Commission to swiftly update the Tobacco legislation to better include those new products by using the precautionary principle to protect people's health, particularly youth and women as some of the most exposed portions of population;
Amendment 282 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – introductory part
Paragraph 5 – introductory part
5. Supports the Commission’s proposals to reviewEurope’s Beating Cancer Plan to achieve a Tobacco-Free Generation and prevent tobacco use by reducing tobacco consumption to 5% by 2040 and urges the Commission to accelerate for the revision of the Tobacco Products Directive11 and the Tobacco Taxation Directive12 and the proposal to update the Council recommendation of 30 November 2009 on smoke-free environments13 ; calls for a full implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control; calls and prevent any delays in the revision of the legislation; calls on the Commission for the full implementation of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC); calls furthermore on the Commission and the Member States to: _________________ 11 Directive 2014/40/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 3 April 2014 on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States concerning the manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco and related products, OJ L 127, 29.4.2014, p. 1. 12 Council Directive 2011/64/EU of 21 June 2011 on the structure and rates of excise duty applied to manufactured tobacco, OJ L 176, 5.7.2011, p. 24. 13 OJ C 296, 5.12.2009, p. 4.
Amendment 292 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – point a
Paragraph 5 – point a
a. implement measures to help tobacco users quit in line with WHO FCTC and by following WHO recommendations and scientific advice from public health authorities;
Amendment 311 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – point b
Paragraph 5 – point b
b. follow up on the scientific evaluations of theresearch and evaluations by public health authorities about the known health risks related to electronic cigarettes, heated tobacco products and novel tobacco products including the assessment of the risks of using these products compar, particularly taking into consideration the threat posed to cnonsuming other tobacco products- smokers, youth and women;
Amendment 316 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – point b a (new)
Paragraph 5 – point b a (new)
ba. an increase and an upward convergence in minimum excise duties for all tobacco products and their final market price, which would improve prevention by reducing tobacco uptake and use, notably among current smokers, and prevent young people from starting smoking;
Amendment 322 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – point b b (new)
Paragraph 5 – point b b (new)
bb. bringing the taxation of novel smoking products, such as vapes and heated tobacco, into line with cigarettes;
Amendment 326 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – point b c (new)
Paragraph 5 – point b c (new)
bc. publish annual reports on the progress towards achieving a tobacco-free generation by 2040;
Amendment 328 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – point b d (new)
Paragraph 5 – point b d (new)
bd. in the context of the Evaluation of the legislative framework for tobacco control, recommend the European Commission to work collectively with EU Member States to raise the minimum age for tobacco sales to 21;
Amendment 331 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – point b e (new)
Paragraph 5 – point b e (new)
be. introduce a requirement for standardised plain packaging and the obligation to include health warnings on 80 % of the front and back of tobacco and smoking products packaging, including pictorial warnings;
Amendment 333 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – point b f (new)
Paragraph 5 – point b f (new)
bf. a strict enforcement of the ban on appealing flavours in tobacco products and the introduction of similar restrictions to novel smoking devices to reduce the appeal of these products to smokers, non-smokers, and young people;
Amendment 334 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – point b g (new)
Paragraph 5 – point b g (new)
bg. to further enhance the protection of consumers from the advertisement of smoking devices, heated tobacco products and electronic cigarettes; is concerned by the fact that the ban on cigarettes and tobacco advertising is often eluded by the advertisement of the device itself; calls on the Commission to propose urgent measures in order to protect consumers from advertisement and promotion of such dangerous and addictive devices and products;
Amendment 335 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Underlines that alcohol is classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as a toxic, psychoactive, and dependence-producing substance and a Group 1 carcinogen that is causally linked to seven types of cancer, including oesophagus, liver, colorectal, and breast cancers; recalls that alcohol consumptions is associated with 740000 new cancer cases each year globally; stresses that in the EU, light to moderate alcohol consumption was associated with almost 23000 new cancer cases in 2017, accounting for 13,3% of all alcohol- attributable cancers and for 2,3% of all cases of the seven alcohol-related cancer types;
Amendment 343 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Acknowledges that the harmful use of alcohol is a risk factor for multiple NCDs and underlines that the lower the amount of alcohol consumed, the lower the risk is of developing NCDs14 ; _________________ 14 Global burden of disease 2016 Alcohol Collaborators, ‘Alcohol use and burden for 195 countries and territories,1990–2016: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016’, 23 August 2018.Highlights that the WHO estimates 1 million deaths annually in the European region due to alcohol consumption; underlines that alcohol consumption is a risk factor for multiple NCDs and that no safe amount of alcohol consumption for cancers and health can be identified, and reminds also that these factors must be taken into account while regulating the sector; acknowledges as well that the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified alcohol as a Group 1 carcinogen, and calls for the urgent implementation of evidence-based methods to reduce alcohol consumption in Europe; recalls also that alcohol consumption is causally linked to several different types of cancer, including breast, liver, and colorectal cancer;
Amendment 356 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 – introductory part
Paragraph 7 – introductory part
7. Welcomes the Commission’s objective of achieving a 10 % reduction in harmful alcohol consumption by 2025; calls on the Commission and the Member States to:
Amendment 358 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 – point a
Paragraph 7 – point a
a. EUrgently enact restrictions on alcohol advertising targeting minors; o ensure they are not seen by minors, recognizing the evidence on the impact of alcohol marketing targeting youth on consumption;
Amendment 364 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 – point a a (new)
Paragraph 7 – point a a (new)
aa. prohibit alcohol advertising and sponsorship at sport events when those events are attended by minors, including alcohol free beverages advertising or sponsorship by companies or brands whose main business is alcoholic beverages;
Amendment 391 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 – introductory part
Paragraph 8 – introductory part
8. Notes that an unhealthy diet is one of the major risk factors for NCDs, including obesity, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes and other conditions linked to obesity, oral diseases, chronic kidney disease, liver, pancreas and other gastrointestinal diseases15 ; acknowledges that obesity is considered a risk factor for several NCDs; calls on the Commission and the Member States to: _________________ 15 World Health Organization Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, ‘Noncommunicable diseases’.
Amendment 468 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. CStresses the direct link between environmental factors and numerous NCDs; recalls the importance of protecting people from the exposure to environmental hazards, in their daily lives as well as in their working environment; underlines the need of streamlining the One Health approach in all EU and national policies in order to better protect humans health; considers the European Green Deal to be instrumental into allow for a sustainable development and thus preventing NCDs in the EU by reducing air, food, water and soil pollution, UV radiation exposure and chemical exposure; highlights that prevention of chronic respiratory diseases besides tobacco cessation also includes the prevention of exposure to dust and other indoor pollutantsfine particulates, dust, dangerous chemicals, gasses such as radon, hazard materials such as asbestos and other pollutants, both indoor and outdoor;
Amendment 479 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Acknowledges that air pollution has a negative impact on human health and exposure to it affects 100% of the population, from unborn babies to the elderly, that 400,000 premature deaths every year are caused by outdoor air pollution in Europe, and that as many as 15% of all lung cancer deaths are linked to air pollution; calls therefore the Commission and member states to further improve air quality provisions in order to protect public health;
Amendment 504 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Stresses that per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) can lead to health problems such as obesity and cancer16 ; calls on the Commission to urgently implement the PFAS restriction proposal submitted to European Chemicals Agency on 13 January 202317 ; _________________ 16 European Environment Agency, ‘What are PFAS and how are they dangerous for my health?’. 17 European Chemicals Agency, ‘ECHA publishes PFAS restriction proposal’, 2023.
Amendment 536 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Encourages the Commission and the Member States to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals that target communicable diseases in order to promote the prevention of NCDs such as cancer related to infectious diseases; welcomes vaccination programmes in this regard such as in the fight against human papillomavirus transmissione fight against HPV and hepatitis B infection, including the adoption of gender-neutral HPV vaccinations for all adolescents and young adults;
Amendment 544 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Acknowledges that social, economic, cultural, and commercial determinants of health, and health inequities increase the risk of NCDs and underlines the need to create favourable conditions that address these factors; emphasizes the importance of a more robust implementation of the Health in All Policies principle, in dialogue with the public health community, and with thorough consideration of the health impacts of sectoral policies;
Amendment 554 #
14b. Welcome the approval of the 2022 Council Recommendations on Cancer Screening Recommendations in Europe which include comprehensive strategies for earlier detection of breast, cervical, colorectal cancer and extend recommended screenings in Europe for lung, prostate and gastric cancers;
Amendment 585 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Encourages Member States to reduce undiagnosed NCDs by introducing targeted health checks for high-risk individuals, also by promoting self-tests where appropriate and recommended by public health authorities, addressing the main shared metabolic risk factors, ensuring quality care and support NCD patients’ self- management;
Amendment 598 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Notes that some NCDs are closely linked such as diabetes, oral diseases and cardiovascular diseases and that important synergies can be achieved by improving diagnosis and integrated care19 ; _________________ 19 European Commission, ‘Healthier together – EU non-communicable diseases initiative’, p. 30, June 2022.
Amendment 608 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Expresses support for the creation of an EU Network of Comprehensive Cancer Centres, as a good case study for pan European action to improve access to high quality care and to deliver next level cooperation across borders in combating inequalities in access and improved research cooperation;
Amendment 609 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)
Paragraph 17 b (new)
17b. Stresses that functioning, efficient and accessible public healthcare systems in all member states, with appropriate funding and support, are vital in the fight against NCDs; underlines the need to ensure equal access to primary care and healthcare services for all in the EU; is concerned about the widespread discrimination faced by EU citizens in the access to basic healthcare services, prevention services, screening programs and continuous care and treatments, for example for chronic diseases patients; calls on the Commission to propose legislative and regulatory measures to introduce minimum standards for healthcare services all across the EU in order to protect and promote people's health;
Amendment 612 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Recalls that notwithstanding the lifting of most of the COVID-19 related restrictions, NCDs patients are still at higher risk in case of any coronavirus infection; stresses that these patients must be protected in their day-to-day lives and particularly during the access to public health services for their treatment and care; underlines the need to mantain an high level of surveillance on the new variants and the potential trends of COVID-19 and any other communicable diseases that could affect NCDs patients;
Amendment 613 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Stresses that nurses, doctors, general practitioners and other primary any strategy or policy to address NCDs must take into consideration the fundamental importance of healthcare workers and personnel; underlines that the issue of healthcare workforce shortages in the EU should be one of the strategic priorities to be addressed at EU and national level, with appropriate policies, funding and support; stresses that functioning and efficient healthcare systems cannot exist without appropriate levels of personnel with the required training and expertise; recalls that healthcare professionals have a significant role in referring patients for diagnostic tests and treating NCDs; encourages the Member States to offer inter- professional training to healthcare professionals to better identifyrecognize high-risk individuals, and to better prevent, identify and treat NCDs;
Amendment 727 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. WelcomAcknowledges the pharmaceutical package presented by the Commission and calls for the strengthening of the European medicines market to ensure access to medicines and alleviate medicine shortages, reduce barriers to cross-border business, while strengthening incentives for investment in innovation; underlines that data protection and intellectual property rights are crucial to ensure competitiveness in the EU by incentivising innovators to develop new products and further ongoing research effortsequal and affordable access to medicines all across the EU and to alleviate medicine shortages, guarantee access to treatment to EU patients in all member states, reduce barriers to cross-border business, while supporting investment in research and innovation; recalls that the use of public funding must be aligned with the public interest and foresee appropriate returns in terms of fair pricing and marketization of the products in all member states, and also including conditionality such as transparency, traceability, accessibility; underlines the benefits of fair and predictable IP protection system in fostering and advancing medicinal research, production and development;