Irrespective of where discussions on accession of Ukraine into the European Union stand, the EU should afford European Healthcare services to Ukrainians, said the Minister for Health Chris Fearne on Tuesday.
Fearne was speaking before the Consumer Affairs Council (Health) meeting took place in Luxembourg on Tuesday.
Fearne added that the same health services which are offered to European citizens should also be offered to Ukrainians “even now without any prejudice to discussions on accession or cross border healthcare to European citizens across Europe”.
He added that this act will enable European countries to offer humanitarian aid in an expedient and safe way to European citizens and to Ukrainian citizens as well.
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said on the 30 May that “Europe must lead and must remain in the lead”.
She urged European heads of state together with their governments to continue sanctioning Russia and to agree on new ones for Belarus, since it is currently supporting Russia in its illegal war.
Speaking about the meeting Fearne said that apart from Ukrainian humanitarian aid, the Health Consumer Affairs council will be discussing important topics such as the European health data space “which is extremely important to make sure we have better health care services for patients but also to allow the industry an advantage when it comes to the innovation of new medical products.”
Apart from that Europe’s place within the world will also be discussed, as the European Union’s global health strategy gives direction where Europe want to go health wise, globally in the next few years.