United States and European Union Form Joint Task Force to Tackle Global Health Issues
Joining two powerful entities may be what it takes to overcome cancer and global health threats and improve health architecture around the world. In May 2023, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra and the European Union Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Stella Kyriakides announced that the countries had formed the EU–U.S. Health Task Force (https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2023/05/17/joint-press-release-launch-eu-us-health-task.html), a new joint effort to address global health.
Europe shares the United States’ priority for the Cancer Moonshot and has its own comparable Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan (https://health.ec.europa.eu/system/files/2022-02/eu_cancer-plan_en_0.pdf). Investing in cancer prevention, detection, and treatment is one of the task force’s priorities, as well as:
- Defining and preventing the next global health threats
- Correcting supply chain issues, expanding vaccination programs, and combating the next pandemic
- Promoting rights for women and girls and vulnerable populations
“We are committed to making sure that all people can access the health care they need, and we know that our health at home is connected to the health of people everywhere,” Becerra said (https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2023/05/17/joint-press-release-launch-eu-us-health-task.html). “This task force will allow us to build on our existing work together across a range of issues to address new challenges around cancer, global health threats, and strengthening the global health infrastructure.”
By combining member expertise, organizational experience, and evidence-based educational resources, ONS seeks to improve oncology care delivery worldwide. Learn more about ONS’s global initiatives (https://www.ons.org/global-initiatives) and other public health priorities (https://www.ons.org/make-a-difference/advocacy-policy/public-health).