One of the main objectives of the European Pharmaceutical Law Group is to create expert committees to address cutting-edge issues in the sector that are of real significance to the lives and health of European citizens.

The Working Group on Health Rights, promoted by both the European Pharmaceutical Law Group (EUPHARLAW) and Schering España, was presented in Madrid at the Hotel Eurobuilding on 25 February 2003.

The work group’s objectives are the following: to draw up a list of Ten Basic Health Rights for all citizens, and develop and disseminate information on these rights by way of the monograph "Health Rights in the 21st Century", thereby inviting discussion on the matter.

The publication in the media of the conclusions reached in the work carried out, and in the "Ten Basic Health Rights for the 21st Century", was made possible through the Madrid-Barcelona Videoconference held on 5 November 2003. he monograph was also presented in Badajoz on 24 March 2004, with the participation of the Regional Health Minister for Extremadura, Mr Guillermo Fernández Vara, the President of the Offical Association of Pharmacists of Badajoz, Mr Cecilio Venegas Fito, and the Chairman of Eupharlaw, Mr Manuel Amarilla Gundín. For further information, contact our Public Relations and Communications Department.

On October 2004, the European Pharmaceutical Law Group presented the conclusions reached by the Working Group on Health Rights, as a contribution to the public survey launched by the European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, which aimed to lay down new guidelines on health policy in Europe. See contribution to Europe

In July 2005 , as a contribution to the public consultation launched on the basis of a proposal of the Green Book of Mental Health, European Pharmaceutical Law Group presented a document for the implementation of the 2 nd Health Right provided for in our Decalogue: The Right to Mental Health . On this occasion, Eupharlaw proposed to Europe the defining and consolidation of the right of the citizen to mental health and its establishing as a fundamental health right. See contribution to Europe [Doc R-041]

LIST OF TEN BASIC HEALTH RIGHTS

I.- The right to clinical and therapeutic information on biotechnology and human genomes
II.- The right to mental health
III.- The right to health in the work place
IV.- The right to food safety
V.- The right to the full protection of the environment and sustainable development
VI. The right to sexual and reproductive health
VII.- The right to personal health data protection
VIII.- The right to health education
IX.- The right to pharmaceutical care
X.- The right of the citizen to access health services

E UPHARLAW's main aim is to promote therapeutic information to the citizen, active participation in the decisions to be taken regarding clinical and therapeutic treatments, free consent, and correct treatment compliance, making the citizen co-liable for their health together with the other participants in the therapeutic chain.

The key ideas of the Work Group on Health Rights are:

• The right to health.
• The right to information on health matters, and in particular, pharmaceutical products.
• The promotion of the responsibility of citizens for their own health.
• Respect for the bioethical principle of autonomy of the citizen.
• Treatment compliance.
• Modernisation of the pharmaceutical sector.