Statement calls on EU policymakers to preserve health funding in future EU budget

The World Bladder Cancer Patient Coalition (WBCPC) has signed a joint statement led by the BioMed Alliance, calling on the European Commission to safeguard health funding in the upcoming Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). The statement has been endorsed by a wide coalition of medical societies, patient organisations, and other stakeholders in the health sector.

This collective call to action comes in response to growing concern that EU investment in health may be deprioritised in the next long-term budget, in favour of areas such as defence and artificial intelligence. The joint statement highlights that such a shift would risk undermining critical progress made in health research, policy, and systems strengthening across Europe.

The statement draws attention to the essential role of EU programmes like EU4Health, the Health Cluster in Horizon Europe, and Digital Europe, which have supported everything from pandemic preparedness to digital transformation in healthcare. These initiatives have delivered tangible improvements in access to care, cross-border collaboration, and medical innovation. As the health community warns, reducing support for these instruments would jeopardise ongoing efforts to build resilient and equitable health systems.

The COVID-19 pandemic is cited as a powerful example of why sustained investment in health matters. With more than 2 million lives lost in the European region, the pandemic revealed the need for coordinated, well-funded public health responses. While the immediate crisis has passed, the health community stresses that future threats such as antimicrobial resistance or new pandemics demand continuous attention and resources.

The statement also underscores that health should not be funded only through emergency preparedness channels. Health challenges are often interconnected, with co-morbidities significantly affecting COVID-19 outcomes, and environmental factors like air pollution directly influencing chronic disease. Integrated, long-term investment is essential to prevent, manage, and respond to such complexities.

Data cited in the statement illustrates that public investment in medical research yields strong returns. In the UK, for example, every £1 spent on research has been shown to generate approximately 25 pence in health and economic benefits annually. Investing in health is not only a moral imperative—it’s a strategic decision that boosts innovation and European competitiveness.

The World Bladder Cancer Patient Coalition joins this collective appeal to EU policymakers to maintain health as a political priority and reinforce funding commitments that support research, care delivery, and innovation for all European citizens.

To participate in the public consultation, open until 6 May, visit the European Commission consultation page.