Anguish as EU health groups shut down

Politicians, advocacy groups and civil servants have expressed dismay about the European Commission’s decision to close six health-focused intergovernmental expert groups.

The Commission confirmed to Research Europe that it had shut down the groups as part of a “streamlining” process. The groups had been used by representatives of governments, global health organisations, patient associations and other bodies to share information on national initiatives, policies and best practice.

The groups—covering dementia, cancer, mental health, rare diseases, patient safety, and health and social inequalities—will be rolled into a more general group on health policymaking as part of a “horizontal approach” to noncommunicable diseases, the Commission said.