HAI Europe contributes to European Union (EU) policy that promotes universal and equitable access to affordable needed medicines of assured quality and policy and practice that ensures those medicines are used rationally. HAI Europe’s work plan 2015-2017 is dedicated to identify, monitor and support EU policies that provide a response to persistent shortfalls in access to medicines and that are aligned with HAI’s overarching goals on Access to Needed Medicines, Rational Use of Medicines and Democratisation of Medicines Policy in Europe. HAI will work towards these goals through research, evidence-based policy analysis and intervention, training and information sharing. As a result, HAI will advocate for citizen-centred public health policies that address health challenges in the EU and health inequity both within and between EU member states. HAI Europe’s multi-annual programme addresses the objectives of the Third Health Programme and contributes to EU added-value by supporting medicines policies that have the potential to maximise the impact of policy intervention at a regional level, and thereby contributes to better and safer healthcare for EU citizens. HAI Europe is a non-profit, independent NGO and maintains a membership network of consumers, healthcare providers, academics and public interest groups working on pharmaceutical policy issues in Europe. The growing European regional network is represented in over half of EU Member States. The HAI Europe office coordinates actions with the HAI Europe Members Association, and integrates its work in collaboration with other European civil society organisations.
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EPHA is a leading NGO advocating for better health for everyone living in Europe. Our mission is to bring together the public health community to provide thought leadership and facilitate change; to build public health capacity to deliver equitable solutions to European public health challenges, to improve health and reduce health inequalities. Our key role is to promote health in the European Union at the highest levels of policy making across the European Commission, the European Parliament and the European Council.

80 million people still live in poverty in the EU, and poor living conditions, low income, poor employment conditions and unhealthy diets due to being unable to afford to buy healthy food are all key determinants of health. In addition, many of the key determinants of health lie outside of the control of individual citizens, such as how healthcare systems are managed, how food production in the EU is organized and how trade regulations enable or discourage healthy food choices and how pharmaceutical policies and the cost of medicines are regulated, for example.

EPHA's proposal for an operating grant under a Framework Partnership Agreement covers core operating costs for actions on all four objective of the Third Health Programme. EPHA's work plan covers 4 strategic aims: improve overall population health and healthy life years, strengthen European health systems for better patient outcomes and reduced inequalities, and support institutional and policy frameworks that promote health and to strengthen and increase effective public health.

Health in all Policies, prevention-promotion-protection, reduction of inequalities and solidarity are central tenets of EPHA's work plan and are reflected in our approaches to working on food systems, trade and EU governance. Decreasing health inequalities is a core value that we endeavor to mainstream through all EPHA activities. Actions in the 2015 work plan reflect the final year of EPHA’s current strategic plan, and this year will be crucial for setting the 2016 to 2020 strategy.
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Rare cancers (defined as an incidence <6/100000/yr) represent 20% of adult cancers but 30% of cancer mortality. There are over 300 rare cancer types which may affect all organs. A variety of histological and molecular subtypes are emerging following the progresses of genomic classifications.
EURACAN is a patient centered ERN dedicated to the improvement of diagnosis, treatment management, knowledge, research and communication on all adult solid rare cancers for patients, families, physicians and all stakeholders. EURACAN will work on excellence guidelines, their implementation, innovation, research, patient pathways, cross border health care, and patient communication. EURACAN gathers 67 centers from 18 EU countries. These centers were identified on the basis of documented expertise, accrual in rare cancers, and endorsement by their member state.
EURACAN aims to open to additionnal centers, to expand to all EU countries and to host at least health care provider expert for a domain for a region of 5-10 million inhabitants. EURACAN has also invited associated partners from major scientific societies, ESMO, ECCO, ESSO, EORTC, and major patient advocacy groups to participate to the different network bodies. EURACAN will interact with other ERN with related topics, in particular benign conditions.
In EURACAN, rare adult solid cancers were grouped in 10 domains corresponding to the RARECARE classification: sarcomas, rare gynecological cancers, rare urological cancers, neuroendocrine tumors, rare digestive cancers, endocrine tumors, rare head and neck, thoracic, skin, ocular and brain cancers.
EURACAN will propose a unique network to all European patients affected with rare cancers in all member states enabling an optimal care, access to rare resources, education, innovation and research to all EU patients.

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