40% of diseases linked to lifestyle, says MEP

Better prevention and closing the disparities between countries in terms of health care are just issues raised in a health action plan debated recently by Members of the European Parliament. Slovenian MEP and cancer survivor Alojz Peterle drafted Parliament's response to the proposed Commission action plan over the next five years.

The report highlights adverse health trends, especially "lifestyle diseases," the rising cost of medicines and variations in life expectancy (nine years women/13 years men). It also says that prevention-only treatment amounts to 3% of health spending in the European Union and that 40% of diseases are linked to lifestyle.

Speaking in the debate, Mr Peterle said that the EU must make "a strategic shift towards disease prevention." Swedish Socialist Asa Westlund highlighted the "inequalities within member states." This point was taken up by Cypriot Liberal Member Marios Matsakis who spoke of the "shameful differences between richer and poorer countries."