Doc. 8337
2 March 1999

Scientific and technological contributions to the improvement of public health

Motion for a recommendation

presented by Mr Lekberg and others

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only the members who have signed it

1.        Public health has improved constantly during this century thanks, among other things, to improvements in hygiene conditions, better eating habits and the application of scientific and technological findings in the medical and health field.

2.        The scientific understanding of the causes of ill health has helped enormously in the search for, identification and application of, appropriate treatments. It has also helped in formulating health policies and in informing the public on health matters. Health services have been organised and modified in line with new scientific and technological discoveries and inventions.

3.        The health sector in Europe is considerable in economic and employment terms and European companies are in many areas world leaders in this field. The product-range covers pharmaceutical products, analytical procedures and equipment as well as medical and hospital equipment in general.

4.        New scientific and technological developments are constantly improving what the health service is able to offer to society. The introduction of robotics for medical surgery or the use of information technology for the development of tele-medicine as well as for the search for, identification and testing of new drugs are examples of such developments. The progress in biotechnology and genetic engineering, including the mapping of the human genome, will lead to a new revolution regarding health care.

5.       Consequently the Assembly recommends to the Committee of Ministers:

i.       to keep these scientific and technological developments and their consequences for public health services under constant review within the Council of Europe's activities in the medical and health field for the identification of possible action by the Council of Europe;

ii.       to analyse the ethical aspects of the application of scientific and technological discoveries in the medical and health field.

iii.        to invite the governments of member states as well as the European Union (and the World Health Organisation):

a. to monitor research and development (R&D) policies in relation to policies promoting public health with a view to optimising positive results and avoiding negative developments;

b. to pay special attention to, and if need be, increase information to the public on R&D efforts and their possible consequences for public health;

c. to assess the scope for closer European R&D co-operation in this field;

d. to use the mechanisms of the World Health Organisation and other relevant bodies to help developing countries to benefit from progress and experience made.

Signed : ¹

Lekberg, Sweden, SOC

Baburin, Ukraine, UEL

Beaufays, Belgium, EPP/CD

Birraux, France, EPP/CD

Fernandez Aguilar, Spain, EPP/CD

Kolb, Germany, LDR

Kurucsai, Hungary, EPP/CD

Maass, Germany, EPP/CD

Northesk, United Kingdom, EDG

Strizhko, Ukraine, UEL

Tiuri, Finland, EDG

Wittbrodt, Poland, EPP/CD

Yürür, Turkey, EDG

¹        SOC: Socialist Group

      EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party

      EDG: European Democratic Group

      LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group

      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

      NR: not registered in a group