How does the sanitary policy of the European Union affect Europeans?

Introduction

• What is public health?

Public health is the practice of preventing disease and promoting good health to all the citizens that form part of a community. “Public Health is Policy Development and Population Health Surveillance.” (American Public Health Association. 2014.) Public health improves the well-being and health of people in the world through the promotion of healthy lifestyles, research for the disease, injury prevention and education.

Public health professionals try to prevent the problem for happening. They do this by making new educational programs, developing policies, regulating health problems... Nevertheless, clinical professionals, such as doctors and nurses, who focus on treating patients that are already sick and injured also can be public health professionals.

Moreover, a big part of public health fights for health care quality, equality and accessibility.

• International health care

However, international health insurance is one of the most important things to consider when you are planning to move abroad. If you don’t have a health international insurance and you get any type of disease the cost will be elevated and probably you won't be able to pay it.

• European Union health care

One of the main concerns of European citizens is being healthy, In accordance with the Article 168 of the Treaty of the Functioning of the European Union, the EU is attempting to have a higher level of health protection through all the European policies and activities.

In particular, the EU policy on health matters aims to prevent diseases and threats to health (this includes the problem related to the lifestyles of European citizens), improve public health and do more researches to fight better agains diseases. "Community action complements national policies and the Union encourages cooperation between Member States in the field of health" (Europa.eu. 2014. Public health). However, defining national health policies remains an exclusive competence belonging to Member States. Consequently, EU action shall not include the definition of health policies, nor the organisation and provision of health services and medical care.