European Union Health Policy: A Short Overview

Year 2019, Volume: 1 Issue: 3, 119 - 143, 15.12.2019

Hasan Hüseyin Yıldırım , Türkan Yıldırım , Merve Kardelen Bilir , Hasan Giray Ankara , Okan Özkan

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Since its foundation, the European Union has
increased, after a long initial period of mainly economic integration and to
differing extents, its effect on many social policy areas including health
issues. The main objective of this study is to provide an overview
of EU health policy within a conceptual framework. EU health policy has mainly
evolved via two contradictory strands: one is the public health strand and the
other one is the internal market strand. The EU has struggled to have a more
direct role in health care in recent years in order to overcome challenges that
have emerged from internal market dynamics, such as cross-border care issues.
At this point, a strategic approach should be able to effectively manage this
process in favor of citizens’ health through strategic planning and
approaches guided by scientific information and collaboration.

Keywords

European Union, health policy

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