EuSANH

EU added value of the Coordinating Action

State-of-the-art scientific knowledge cannot be integrated into policy without appropriate synthesis and interpretation of research results, professional experience and expert judgement. This function of independent science advice on public health and health care is currently organised in a heterogeneous and fragmented way in EU Member States. There is much room for improvement, for Member States and the EU to deal more effectively with the many common challenges at the interface of science and health policy. At the same time, the present variety of national approaches can permit identification of what can be considered common best practices. 

Obviously, the range of rapid scientific developments and the number of important issues any national advisory body is required to address exceed what can be dealt with by each country on its own. International collaboration provides a way to achieve a more efficient use of the capacity available to produce high quality science advice. This applies both to issues that are until now regulated at a national level and to issues that are by definition transnational, as indicated above. Furthermore, the generation of the scientific knowledge on which the advice is based is intrinsically a transnational activity.

Some specific aspects can be identified that can make for a higher quality and efficiency of ‘trans-national’ science advice, and thereby for an EU added value:

• Creation a larger critical mass and accessing a wider variety of information sources and cases
• Sharing costs of producing advice on a common problem
• Generating political support for conducting studies that may be controversial in a single country
• Streamlining methodology, enabling an easier exchange of material, expertise and experience

 On the other hand, while we emphasize the value of international collaboration, proportionality and subsidiarity are also important principles. In which situations do we want a specific advice at a national level? When is advice with ‘transnational conclusions’ preferred? When is the European level the most appropriate one?

At the technical level, the SINAPSE electronic communication system has been established as a library for scientific opinions and advices. This system also includes tools such as early warning, EU consultation and room for communities. Within the EuSANH community, SINAPSE will make it possible for experiences, reports and members’ work programmes to be exchanged, whereas discussion and survey tools can be used for transnational debate with experts, society and policy makers.  

Finally, as highlighted above, a central added value is the development of an internationally common methodological basis for optimising science advice on health, in support of evidence-based policy making. These added values of the proposed project closely match the specific surplus value of EuSANH, complementary to other European organisations and networks, as outlined above, and at the same time fostering the Strategy of Lisbon in the health sector.