MEPs lead urgent plea to prevent health crisis in Europe

For the first time, nine Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) 65 leading trade unions, civil society organizations, health organizations and industry associations have united in an open letter calling on European leaders to stop cutting essential health and welfare systems and focus on ordinary people living in Europe coping with the dire impact of a financial crisis of which they are the first victims.

The toll on physical and mental health is becoming unbearable, and health systems are at breaking point. The coalition is led by the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA), whose recent briefing note summarizes the evidence of the devastating impact of the financial crisis on human health. The evidence in rising suicides, mental health problems, rates of infectious disease are warning signs that current policies are hurtling Europe in a dangerous direction.