EU4Health reports and studies

HaDEA manages several calls for tenders under the EU4Health programme, with the aim to contribute to the resilience of European healthcare systems and, thus, to a healthier Europe.

The EU4Health programme is funding studies and reports in several fields, contributing to policy priorities such as Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan and the Pharmaceutical Strategy for Europe.

Check out the studies and reports published over the years through contracts managed by HaDEA.

A study assessing scientific, engineering, legal and economic considerations of flexible EU manufacturing and innovation of medical countermeasures for serious cross-border threats to health

This study was conducted on behalf of the European Health Emergency preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) and focuses on flexible manufacturing and process innovation and its capacity to increase the EU’s production of and access to vaccines and therapeutics. This would allow the EU to strengthen its preparedness and response against the next health emergency. The report recommends agreements with a network of EU-based private suppliers to reserve their capacity to produce vaccines and therapeutics, concluding that flexible manufacturing is possible through a coordinated approach between EU countries to reinforce supply-chain resilience, support quality requirements, and promote innovation.

Feasibility study, design, and prototype development for a mapping platform on COVID-19 therapeutics in the European Union

This study has assessed the options for HERA to acquire the capacity to map the COVID-19 supply chain, which would provide a full picture of the EU’s medical supply networks. In a future health crisis, this would allow the EU to ensure a stable supply of medical products and interventions and, thus, improve the EU’s emergency response and security. The study concludes that the option of fully outsourcing the mapping platform as a service would be the best in terms of costs, timing and risk management.

EU REformulation MOnitoring (EUREMO)

In response to obesity continuing to be a significant public health challenge, several EU countries have chosen to implement food reformulation initiatives aimed at improving the nutritional value of manufactured foods by reducing harmful ingredients such as salt, sugar and saturated fat. The EUREMO study has developed and tested a monitoring process for assessing the impact of reformulation initiatives on a range of ‘nutrients of interest/concern’ by collecting primary data on the composition of over 45,000 processed food and drink products available for purchase by the general public in 16 European countries. The contractor has then shared the findings in workshops and through twinning actions and technical support to national public authorities across the EU. The EUREMO data were used to feed into the Food and Beverages Label Explorer (FABLE) database of the Commission’s JRC launched in 2023.

Study supporting the impact assessment of the revision of the Directive on safety and quality of human blood and blood components and of the Directive on safety and quality of human tissues and cells and of their implementing acts

This study was commissioned on behalf of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE) to support the revision of EU legislation on safety and quality of human blood, tissues and cells (BTC), last updated in 2019. The study, which has reached over 700 sector stakeholders, evaluates the existing BTC legislation and suggests measures to address its gaps and shortcomings. The study confirms the benefits of tackling this revision, such as providing a faster and more consistent regulation of BTC across the EU, promoting innovation in this area, and ensuring protection for EU citizens involved in issues within this legal framework, such as medically assisted reproduction.

Mapping of pricing policies and fiscal measures applied to food, non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages

This study has mapped the existing fiscal measures and pricing policies in the consumption of alcohol and products high in fat, sugar and salt in the EU. The study has aimed to identify best practices in the EU public health programmes to support other countries considering the adoption of these policies and measures. The study finds these regulations to be generally successful in reducing the consumption of harmful products, but also recommends the taxation of all alcoholic beverages based on their alcoholic content and calls for an increase in the taxation of low alcohol beverages such as beer or wine as a tool to influence consumer behaviour against harmful alcohol use.

Study on best practices in the public procurement of medicines

HaDEA has commissioned a study on best practices in the public procurement of medicines (PPM) that would analyse the procurement of medicines, procedures and techniques in the hospital sector across 32 EU countries. PPM is a policy option that fosters competition and improves the access to medicines, all while protecting the environment and improving crisis preparedness. Optimising PPM in Europe would contribute to better accessibility, security, affordability and sustainability of medicines and pharmaceutics. The study includes a set of best practices and recommendations for optimising public procurement of medicines in Europe.

Provision of options and recommendations for an EU citizen’s vaccination card

This study has examined the feasibility of developing a common electronic vaccination card recognised across the EU. The EVC (European Vaccination Card) would be a platform that enables citizens to collect and access reliable information about their vaccination records. This enables citizens to easily share their vaccine status with health professionals through a common EU repository. The study has evaluated three approaches for the EVC and has recommended that the EU implements a more citizen-centric, bottom-up version of this system. The new version would empower citizens in the context of tackling vaccine hesitancy and would complement rather than substitute existing vaccination cards.

Provision of options and recommendations for an EU citizen’s vaccination card. Annex 1, Data collection and mapping

The citizens’ Vaccination Card (VC) should meet the needs of all European citizens, as they access their vaccination records safely and reliably. This study has collected data from 30 countries and mapped the existing vaccination cards according to their format, content, and functionality. The study outlines the current form and content of vaccination cards used across different EU countries to identify the features and requirements of a possible common European VC (EVC).

Study on bringing AMR medical countermeasures to the market - Interim Report

This interim report, contracted on behalf of HERA, describes the current and expected market situation of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Medical Countermeasures (MCMs) to find ways to prioritise their production to meet the needs of Europeans. AMR MCMs are synthetic or biological medicines and diagnostics that are specifically applicable to those bacteria, parasites, fungi or viruses that are resistant to existing antimicrobial treatments. The report analyses the current and expected market failures for AMR MCMs and the existing and potential incentives to address them, thus ensuring the development and access to these MCMs.

Study on bringing AMR medical countermeasures to the market - Final Report

This final report focuses on the roles and responsibilities of the EU in supporting new developments and ensuring access to AMR MCMs in the market. Understanding the market needs for AMR MCMs can allow the implementation of incentives to drive innovation and to disseminate information on best practices in this area. The report collects evidence and provides options for action from over 115 stakeholders engaged in AMR to refine the feasibility of the incentive schemes recommended in the interim report and to suggest the most suitable one for the EU. The report concludes with a set of recommendations for the EU to implement the chosen market scheme and to coordinate and support other actions to address the AMR crisis.

See all the EU4Health reports and studies: Studies (europa.eu)

Background information 

EU4Health is the fourth and largest of the EU health programmes. The programme provides funding to national authorities, health organisations and other bodies through grants and public procurement, contributing to a healthier Europe. 

HaDEA manages the vast majority of the total EU4Health budget and implements the programme by managing calls for proposals and tenders from 2021 to 2027.