How to watch the Committee on Public Health (SANT)

Committee on Public Health Ordinary meeting

Doctors and surgeons on AI, EHDS, MDR and Biotech Act

Adam Jarubas and 1 other

Representatives of European doctors and a practising spine surgeon set out clinicians’ perspectives on EU digital health files, medical device and biotech regulation, workforce shortages, and the role of VR-based training in expanding equitable access to care.

In this chapter

1. Doctor Das: doctors’ view on AI, EHDS, MDR and Biotech ActAdam Jarubas
2. Doctor Luca: VR training, workforce crisis and equitable accessElena Nevado del Campo

Watch the moment Share

Committee on Public Health Ordinary meeting

Digital health hearing: mandate, AI use and data needs

Adam Jarubas and 10 others

The committee launches the public hearing on digital health, hears expert Malawski on current clinical uses of AI and digital twins, and discusses data, EHDS implementation and the need for sovereign European health AI through an extended Q&A with MEPs.

In this chapter

1. Transition to digital health hearing: scope and formatAdam Jarubas
2. Expert Malawski: digital twins and current AI use in health
3. Expert Malawski: data, EHDS and sovereign AI needsAdam Jarubas

Watch the moment Share

Committee on Public Health Ordinary meeting

Opinions on NRP health funding and psychosocial risks

Victor Negrescu and 1 other

Members examine and adopt the Negrescu opinion on integrating and financing health in national plans, then rapidly vote on compromise amendments and the final opinion on psychosocial risks and mental health at work.

In this chapter

1. NRP health funding opinion: rapporteur’s priorities and adoptionVictor Negrescu
2. Psychosocial risks and mental health at work: opinion voteAdam Jarubas

Watch the moment Share

Committee on Public Health Ordinary meeting

EU cardiovascular diseases strategy: debate and adoption

Romana Jerković and 1 other

The rapporteur presents the negotiated compromise on an EU cardiovascular strategy, after which members vote through compromise and individual amendments and finally adopt the report by roll-call vote.

In this chapter

1. EU cardiovascular strategy: rapporteur’s compromiseRomana Jerković
2. CVD strategy report: compromise amendments and blocksAdam Jarubas
3. CVD strategy report: remaining amendments and final roll-callAdam Jarubas

Watch the moment Share

Committee on Public Health Ordinary meeting

Opening of SANT meeting and voting setup

Adam Jarubas PPE

The Chair opens the SANT committee meeting, adopts the agenda and minutes, announces member substitutions, and introduces the vote on the EU cardiovascular diseases strategy report.

In this chapter

1. Opening, agenda adoption and chair’s announcementsAdam Jarubas
2. Member replacements and introduction to CVD strategy voteAdam Jarubas

Watch the moment Share

Committee on Public Health Ordinary meeting

Prof. Stratigos: scientific evidence and EU sunbed regulation

Adam Jarubas and 1 other

Presentation of EADV’s mandate and scientific proof of sunbeds’ carcinogenicity, epidemiological data on vulnerable groups, and analysis of global and EU regulatory gaps with a call for harmonised restrictions, youth bans and stricter UV advertising rules under the Beating Cancer Plan.

In this chapter

1. Prof. Stratigos: sunbeds, cancer evidence and EU regulatory gaps
2. Skin health in EU policy and prevention prioritiesAdam Jarubas

Watch the moment Share

Committee on Public Health Ordinary meeting

Opening of skin health agenda and EU disease burden

Adam Jarubas PPE

The Chair closes the previous dialogue, formally opens the agenda point on skin health and prevention, and introduces dermatology experts, followed by Prof. Lesiak’s overview of the EU burden of skin diseases, links to mental health and cardiovascular risk, and the need for comprehensive EU‑level prevention and early education, including for rare diseases.

In this chapter

1. Procedural transition: closure of dialogue and launch of skin health itemAdam Jarubas
2. Prof. Lesiak: EU skin disease burden, mental health and preventionAdam Jarubas

Watch the moment Share

Committee on Public Health Ordinary meeting

Structured dialogue: health threats, women’s health and preparedness

Sirpa Pietikäinen and 5 others

MEPs question the Commissioner on One Health, climate, women’s health and SRHR funding, eastern border risks, disinformation, Ebola and broader crisis readiness, with the Commissioner detailing risk assessments, external action, plans for an EU preparedness hub, women’s health strategy tools and the use of ESF+, as well as stockpiles, exercises and governance under HERA, UCPM and the Preparedness Union.

In this chapter

1. MEPs’ questions on One Health, women’s health and crisis preparednessSirpa Pietikäinen
2. Commissioner: Ebola risk, external response and EU preparedness hub
3. Commissioner: women’s health strategy and ESF+ use
4. Commissioner: EU health preparedness, solidarity and Ebola riskAdam Jarubas

Watch the moment Share

Committee on Public Health Ordinary meeting

Opening of meeting and EHDS context

Adam Jarubas PPE

The Chair opens the public health committee meeting, adopts the agenda and introduces the European Health Data Space report as a key legislative file before outlining the format and objectives of the structured dialogue with the Commissioner on health priorities.

In this chapter

1. Opening of meeting and EHDS report introduction
2. Structured dialogue setup and Commissioner’s prioritiesAdam Jarubas

Watch the moment Share

Committee on Public Health Ordinary meeting

SANT committee opening and EU Health Union priorities

Adam Jarubas and 8 others

The Chair opens the SANT committee meeting, confirms the agenda and introduces the debate on EU health strategy, followed by the Commissioner’s presentation of priorities for the European Health Union, reinforced cooperation, and crisis preparedness after COVID‑19.

Watch the moment Share

Committee on Public Health Ordinary meeting

ECDC exchange: mandate, tools and EU health role

Adam Jarubas and 4 others

The Chair reports on the Poland mission and launches the agenda point with the ECDC Director, followed by MEPs’ questions and ECDC replies on surveillance (including AI), One Health, epidemic risks, governance and resources before formal closure of the item.

In this chapter

1. Chair: mission report and ECDC agenda introductionAdam Jarubas
2. ECDC exchange: MEP questions, mandate and closureAdam Jarubas

Watch the moment Share

Committee on Public Health Ordinary meeting Joint meeting Committee on Employment and Social Affairs

ECDC: annual report, outbreaks and 2025 priorities

Adam Jarubas PPE

The chair and ECDC Director frame the agency’s mandate and current health security threats, present operational responses to Ebola, Hantavirus and communicable disease trends, and discuss the 2025 work programme alongside MEP questions on AI, One Health, zoonoses and remaining gaps in EU preparedness and funding.

In this chapter

1. Chair and ECDC Director: session opening and health security frameworkAdam Jarubas
2. ECDC Director: Ebola exit measures, Hantavirus outbreak and prevention priorities
3. ECDC 2025 outlook and parliamentary questions on AI and One HealthAdam Jarubas

Watch the moment Share

Committee on Public Health Ordinary meeting Joint meeting Committee on Employment and Social Affairs

Pharmaceutical policy: Critical Medicines Act and SANT mission

Adam Jarubas and 1 other

The committee reviews the trilogue outcome on the Critical Medicines Act, detailing Parliament’s gains on security of supply, EU manufacturing, procurement and solidarity mechanisms, and then debriefs the SANT delegation’s mission to Poland on the pharmaceutical package, biotech, access to medicines and workforce challenges.

In this chapter

1. Critical Medicines Act trilogue: mandate and political outcomeAdam Jarubas
2. Critical Medicines Act: procurement, EU production and solidarityTomislav Sokol
3. SANT delegation to Poland: health and pharma mission debriefAdam Jarubas

Watch the moment Share

Committee on Public Health Ordinary meeting Joint meeting Committee on Employment and Social Affairs

Joint EMPL–ENVI items and vaccine petition vote

Adam Jarubas and 1 other

Co‑chairs launch hybrid joint EMPL–ENVI meetings on asbestos protection and the Social Climate Fund, then address a procedural challenge on petition 2287/2025 about alleged mRNA vaccine injury, culminating in a roll‑call confirming coordinators’ refusal to act.

In this chapter

1. Joint EMPL–ENVI hybrid meetings: asbestos and Social Climate Fund
2. Procedural vote: petition 2287/2025 on mRNA vaccinesAdam Jarubas

Watch the moment Share

Committee on Public Health Ordinary meeting

Committee opening, petitions and Critical Medicines Act

Adam Jarubas and 2 others

Procedural business, block votes and confirmation of petition 2287/2025 handling lead into the presentation of the Critical Medicines Act trilogue outcome on strategic autonomy, access and shortage prevention tools.

In this chapter

1. Committee opening, agenda and report votesAdam Jarubas
2. Petition 2287/2025 challenge and Critical Medicines ActAdam Jarubas

Watch the moment Share

Committee on Public Health Ordinary meeting Joint meeting Committee on Employment and Social Affairs

Committee openings and health workforce crisis plan

Adam Jarubas and 1 other

Chairs open several joint EMPL meetings, set agendas and practical voting arrangements, then introduce the EU health workforce crisis report, define its mandate and political context, and proceed through the full voting sequence to adopt the committee position.

In this chapter

1. Opening segments: joint meetings and agendasAdam Jarubas
2. Health workforce crisis plan: mandate and voting setupAdam Jarubas
3. Votes on health workforce crisis reportAdam Jarubas

Watch the moment Share

Committee on Public Health Ordinary meeting

HERA DG: post‑COVID threat landscape and financing architecture

DG Fink‑Hooijer presents HERA’s assessment of the evolving health threat landscape and current tools such as surveillance, simulations, partnerships, innovation support and antidote development, and explains the planned end‑to‑end funding pipeline linking Horizon Europe, the European Health Emergency Response (ECF) instruments, HERA Invest and the new UCPM‑HERE mechanism amid MFF pressures.

In this chapter

1. HERA DG: post‑COVID threat landscape and tools
2. HERA DG: funding pipeline and multi‑fund architecture

Watch the moment Share

Committee on Public Health Ordinary meeting

MEPs–Commissioner: nicotine products, AMR, NGOs and fur farming

A second Q&A focuses on including nicotine pouches and nitrous oxide in EU rules, tackling AMR in animal use, funding decisions affecting health NGOs, meat and cancer risk communication, shortages of basic supplies, and a proposed EU ban on fur farming and imports, with the Commissioner explaining upcoming TPD changes, CLP-based nitrous oxide restrictions, AMR targets, NGO funding reallocations, positions on red meat, national competences, and the state of the fur-farming proposal before the chair closes the dialogue and introduces the HERA agenda point.

In this chapter

1. Q&A round 2: nicotine pouches, nitrous oxide, AMR, NGOs, fur
2. Commissioner replies: TPD scope, nitrous oxide, AMR, NGOs and fur
3. Transition: closing structured dialogue and introducing HERA

Watch the moment Share

Committee on Public Health Ordinary meeting

MEPs–Commissioner: wastewater, prevention, data, devices and biotech

The first Q&A round covers the Urban Wastewater Directive’s impact on medicine availability, the need for a stronger prevention and mental health strategy, vaccination and tobacco control (including novel products), data use for prevention tools, the future of the Beating Cancer Plan and health budget, and safety, affordability and gender bias in biotech and medical devices, with the Commissioner detailing planned safeguards, prevention initiatives, mental health and tobacco reforms, biotech incentives, generics access and workforce productivity measures.

In this chapter

1. Q&A round 1: wastewater directive and prevention
2. Q&A round 1: data, budgets, devices and women’s health
3. Commissioner replies: wastewater, prevention, mental health, tobacco

Watch the moment Share

Committee on Public Health Ordinary meeting

Chair: agenda and Commission health package

The chair opens the sitting, reports coordinators’ decisions and sets out the format of the structured dialogue, followed by Commissioner Varhelyi’s presentation of the health package priorities on pharmaceuticals, critical medicines, biotech, medical devices, cardiovascular strategy and tobacco control roadmap.

In this chapter

1. Chair: committee decisions and agenda
2. Commissioner: health package and tobacco roadmap

Watch the moment Share

Committee on Public Health Ordinary meeting

Conclusions on drug policy exchange and session closure

Adam Jarubas PPE

Chair Jarubas summarizes the key takeaways on effective drug policy and support for Ukraine’s mental health system, thanks the expert and members, and formally closes the morning SANT meeting, announcing the start time of the coordinators’ meeting after the break.

Watch the moment Share

Committee on Public Health Ordinary meeting

MEP Q&A: EU drug strategy, Ukraine and regulation

Vytenis Povilas Andriukaitis and 5 others

MEPs Andriukaitis, Hauser, Varega, Bosse and Metz question Dr Bém on the ‘war on drugs’ framing, the EU’s strategic orientation, Ukraine and peace negotiations, PTSD treatment versus harm reduction, legalization and emerging substances, civil society involvement and access to innovative therapies, with Dr Bém responding on regulatory models, system capacity, prevention and the need for a stronger EU public health voice.

In this chapter

1. Q&A I: Andriukaitis and Hauser on strategy and UkraineVytenis Povilas Andriukaitis
2. Q&A II: Varega, Bosse and Metz on PTSD, legalization and civil societyAurelijus Veryga
3. Dr Bém: responses on ‘war on drugs’, PTSD and regulation
4. Dr Bém: legalization, new substances and EU voice

Watch the moment Share

Committee on Public Health Ordinary meeting

Expert hearing: EU drug policy and candidate countries

Adam Jarubas PPE

The chair launches the ‘Excellence in Health Science’ exchange with Dr Pavel Bém, who criticises the 2026–2030 EU Drug Strategy’s shift toward security, details punitive and corruption-prone drug regimes in accession countries, and highlights war-related mental health and substance use challenges in Ukraine, calling for health- and rights-based reforms supported by the EU.

In this chapter

1. Intro to ‘Excellence in Health Science’ exchangeAdam Jarubas
2. Dr Bém: critique of EU Drug Strategy 2026–2030
3. Dr Bém: candidate countries’ punitive drug policies
4. Dr Bém: Ukraine war, mental health and substance useAdam Jarubas

Watch the moment Share

Committee on Public Health Ordinary meeting

Opening of SANT meeting and opinion votes

Adam Jarubas and 1 other

Chair Jarubas opens the SANT committee, adopts the agenda and minutes, and leads successive votes on opinions regarding the European Competitiveness Fund, the EU Youth Strategy, and the EU–Switzerland health agreements package, all of which are adopted.

In this chapter

1. Opening of meeting and agenda adoptionAdam Jarubas
2. Vote: opinion on European Competitiveness FundAdam Jarubas
3. Vote: opinion on EU Youth Strategy 2019–2027Adam Jarubas
4. Vote: opinion on EU–Switzerland health agreements packageAdam Jarubas

Watch the moment Share

Committee on Public Health Ordinary meeting

Chair and MEP Q&A on patient involvement

Stine Bosse Renew

The Chair and several MEPs question experts on leading member states, needed EU instruments, organizing independent patient groups and balancing clinical views with those of patients and families in R&I and care pathways.

In this chapter

1. Chair’s questions and experts’ replies: leading countries and operational toolsStine Bosse
2. MEP question: organizing independent patient groups
3. MEP comment: balancing clinical and family perspectivesStine Bosse

Watch the moment Share

Committee on Public Health Ordinary meeting

Study presentation: scope, EU landscape and country cases

Stine Bosse Renew

The Chair and experts present the patient‑centred health R&I study, define the concept and its principles, review current EU‑level instruments, and detail member state case studies plus recommendations for embedding patient‑centredness through governance tools, standards, funding and capacity‑building.

In this chapter

1. Patient‑centred health R&I study: scope and EU landscapeStine Bosse
2. Member state case studies and recommendations for embedding patient‑centredness

Watch the moment Share