Denmark
Danish delegation visits WHO/Europe
From left, members of the delegation (Erich Erichsen, Else Smith, Katrine Schjønning and Per Okkels) and the WHO Regional Director for Europe (Zsuzsanna Jakab) Photo: WHO/Oluf Christoffersen
On 9 January 2012, a delegation from the Ministry of Health of Denmark visited WHO/Europe. Ms Zsuzsanna Jakab, WHO Regional Director for Europe, briefed the group on the main WHO initiatives in the European Region. The meeting also provided an opportunity to discuss current and future collaboration and areas in which WHO could support Denmark in its Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
The Danish delegation comprised staff of the Ministry (Per Okkels, Permanent Secretary; Katrine Schjønning, Head of Division, International Cooperation; and Erich Erichsen, Head of Section, International Cooperation) and the National Board of Health, Denmark (Else Smith, Chief Executive Officer).
Denmark currently holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Its health agenda, “Smart Health, Better Lives”, includes the following priorities:
- enhancing innovation and the use of health and welfare technology so patients can get better and more effective treatment and resources are used optimally;
- increasing patient safety with regard to medical devices;
- ensuring more equal access to information on medicinal products for patients across the European Union (EU);
- ensuring more rational use of antibiotics; and
- addressing the challenge of noncommunicable diseases, using diabetes as a model.
In the EU, 2012 is the European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations, focusing on how older people can remain healthy and active longer.