Canada and the EU collaborate on antimicrobial resistance, health security, and non-communicable diseases
Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Stella Kyriakides, and Canada's Minister of Health, Mark Holland, have launched the EU-Canada Health Policy Dialogue under the Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA).
This virtual meeting marks the beginning of a cooperative effort focusing on three priority areas: antimicrobial resistance (AMR), health security, and non-communicable diseases, including cancer and mental health.
The EU and Canada aim to share knowledge, scientific evidence, and best practices to enhance health and safety both domestically and globally.
Addressing AMR is a key component of the dialogue. Both the EU and Canada recognize AMR as a serious public health and socio-economic challenge.
They view the upcoming High-Level Meeting on AMR at the United Nations General Assembly as an opportunity to strengthen global commitment to combatting this issue.
Both parties agreed to increase collaboration on AMR surveillance, target setting, and the integration of environmental considerations through the One Health approach. Additionally, they will explore economic models to encourage the development of new antimicrobials.
The dialogue also aims to reinforce cooperation on health security, with a focus on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. The EU and Canada emphasized the need for an accountable and effective WHO at the centre of global health efforts.
They highlighted the importance of the recently amended International Health Regulations and supported the development of a legally binding Pandemic Agreement.
Both sides agreed to work together on health challenges related to climate change, such as the rise of extreme heat and vector-borne diseases, to improve the well-being of current and future generations.
Cancer prevention, treatment, and care represent another area of cooperation. Both parties are committed to improving equitable access to cancer care and are planning a series of knowledge exchanges to support this goal.
They also acknowledged the need for high-impact, transnational research to better understand and prevent cancer.
Mental health was also a major focus of the discussions. The EU and Canada agreed on the importance of accessible, comprehensive, and reliable mental health services, both in-person and digitally.
They will engage in a knowledge exchange to share best practices and policy approaches, connecting these efforts to broader goals within multilateral forums.
During the dialogue, Stella Kyriakides expressed that “Canada is a key partner for the EU in tackling global health challenges.” She emphasized the importance of this partnership in addressing pandemics, AMR, cancer, and mental health under the SPA.
Mark Holland echoed these sentiments, stating that the dialogue “highlights the importance of global partnerships” to improve health and well-being for Canadians and contribute to global health efforts.
The SPA between the EU and Canada, signed in 2016, includes provisions for cooperation and information exchange on global health issues.
In 2021, Prime Minister Trudeau and President Von der Leyen agreed to establish a high-level health dialogue, aiming to address public health emergencies, AMR, and mental health as part of a broader collaborative approach to global health challenges.
