European healthcare professionals underline the importance of routine vaccination
30.09.2022In July, WHO and UNICEF warned that the global vaccination coverage continued to decline in 2021, with 25 million children missing out on lifesaving vaccines. Inadequate coverage levels have already resulted in avoidable outbreaks of measles and polio, also in Europe.1 For example in August, there were signs of the polio virus spreading in London. Moreover, the war in Ukraine has led to millions of refugee children who must be protected and whose vaccination schedule should be updated.
Healthcare professionals should ensure that children are up-to-date on their routine and COVID-19 vaccines particularly now when the schools have started again. This is crucial to be protected against serious, sometimes deadly diseases, despite the challenges and disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
It is important that healthcare professionals engage in continuous professional education and are updated with the latest scientific evidence, in order to recommend vaccinations and strengthen the positive influence of healthcare providers on vaccine confidence.
The Coalition for Vaccination reaffirms that vaccination is a safe and efficient way of protecting individuals and populations from vaccine-preventable communicable diseases. Healthcare professionals are trusted sources of information for parents, and they can help families make informed decisions that contribute to public health.
The Coalition for Vaccination reiterates that healthcare professionals should :
- Remind families whose children are behind on routine vaccination;
- Inform families when and how children are eligible for COVID-19 vaccines;
- Show families where they can find information on the national immunisation programmes;
- Listen to and discuss with hesitant people, clarifying information, debunking myths and tackling disinformation;
- Build trust in vaccines by being transparent and up-to-date with scientific evidence;
- Support migrants (e.g. Ukrainian refugees) and fragile populations;
- Be aware that they and their colleagues are acting as role models and, therefore, be
vaccinated according to their own national programme.
Find the full press release here: European healthcare professionals underline the importance of routine vaccination
EMOs statement on violence against and burnout among doctors and other healthcare professionals in the context of war
06.07.2022The right to health is a fundamental pillar of human rights. It remains applicable in all circumstances and doctors have an ethical duty to ensure they treat the injured and sick.
European Medical Organisations (EMOs) reaffirm that physicians’ safety at work is paramount for the provision of quality healthcare. They are deeply concerned about the risk and the negative impact of violence against all healthcare professionals and observe that doctors and other healthcare professionals, working in healthcare institutions are increasingly confronted with situations of violence in their daily practice.
Further, clearly, in situations of war, the violence against healthcare professionals can take still another dimension and the protection of the endangered healthcare professionals is essential too.
This alarming trend goes against human rights, humanity, and medical ethics. It may hinder or prevent the provision of care that must be guaranteed and protected as effectively as possible.
We believe that there is a need for concrete urgent actions to be taken to protect European doctors and other healthcare professionals from all forms of violence that occur during daily medical practice, be it physical, verbal, or psychological – including institutional violence that knowingly contributes to burnout.
EMOs also call, in situations of war, to respect and comply with the Geneva Conventions and their additional Protocols, in line with the WMA Statement on the Protection of Medical Personnel in Armed Conflicts and Other Situations of Violence.
We reaffirm the need of an effective reporting and assisting mechanism for victims of violence against all healthcare personnel across Europe, for the implementation of violence prevention programmes and for the enforcement of existing laws concerning violence against all healthcare professionals in the workplace.
We also recommend promoting the training and coaching of physicians on how to deal with verbal, physical or psychological violence and the possible basis of burnout. These actions should be supported by permanent displays in the healthcare facilities indicating that violence is not tolerable and informing about existing solutions and penalties.
We wish to act collectively with different international organizations to defend and protect the right to work in a safe and secure workplace free of violence.
3rd European Awareness Day on violence against Doctors
12.03.2022Today we mark the 3rd European Awareness Day on violence against Doctors and other Health Professionals.
CEOM reaffirms the EMOs 2020 Joint Statement since in 2022 violence against health professionals continues to increase. In addition to this there is a psychological distress and burden that the pandemic has reinforced. We wish to express our solidarity and support to our colleagues in their daily practice.
Download the EMOs Joint Statement on Violence against Doctors and other Health Professionals
European Medical Organisations call on EU and Member States to coordinate humanitarian aid
24.02.2022On the morning of the 24th of February the world woke up to unsettling news coming from Ukraine, which was under a sudden invasion by the Russian Armed Forces.
Actions need to be taken by other European member states to aid the Ukrainian people and prevent further loss of lives. 137 Ukrainians have been estimated to have died due to these actions and 316 people have been wounded since the invasion commenced, in addition to Russian troop casualties . Military bases as well as apartment buildings and hospitals have been attacked. Four people were killed and ten injured due to a shell hitting a hospital in eastern Ukraine, the protection of hospitals under international law being ignored in this attack. The Geneva Conventions, to which both countries are party to, specifically state that the safety of healthcare professionals and facilities needs to be upheld.
As organisations representing medical students and medical professionals, we call upon the European Union to coordinate a joint response regarding the immeasurable number of people seeking refuge, in order to ensure efficient management of the situation, based on the European values of democracy, solidarity and the rule of law.
We call on European Member States to cooperate with the Ukrainian government to facilitate the relocation of citizens in an organised manner. We would like to underline the fact that foreign citizens residing in Ukraine cannot be forgotten or neglected, some of whom do not have the opportunity to return to their home countries because they are also in the midst of conflict, thus requiring visas to be waived to enter another country. Asylum must be granted to as many refugees and vulnerable groups as possible.
European Member States must facilitate the integration of refugees and asylum seekers in all aspects. Special care should be given to accommodation conditions that are prepared with respect to human rights, as well as to the provision of educational opportunities, language courses and other methods to promote the integration into societies of the country they will be residing in.
We call on NGOs and human rights organisations to cooperate with European Member States to deliver humanitarian aid to those who need it.
We call on European Organisations to offer mental health resources to whoever might be affected by this situation, whether it be through webinars or by facilitating the access to therapy sessions and psychological aid. We also call on European Organisations to invest in financial resources to aid refugees and asylum seekers in relocating and medical students in maintaining their education in other countries.
All governments should work together to ensure safe travel routes for people leaving the countries. The European Union and national border authorities, along with other relevant agencies, must handle any influx of refugees with the utmost respect for international law, human life and dignity. National governments and relevant organisations must ensure the provision of translators at borders and points of interface. Resources must be distributed equitably, allowing for countries to receive adequate support ensuring effective handling of the situation on all fronts. We call upon countries in stronger economic positions to provide assistance in the form of resources to countries unable to adequately support an expected increase in capacity due to this humanitarian crisis.
Additionally, a collaborative, cross-sectoral and cross-border effort is essential to uphold medical treatment of acute and chronic diseases during this time.
We call on European citizens to donate to organisations delivering humanitarian aid, such as the Red Cross. We call upon anyone with the means to open up their house to refugees and asylum seekers to do so and be available with the integration of refugees and asylum seekers in their cities and countries.
We call on our members and fellow healthcare students and professionals to lead by example through providing aid and assistance, while calling on national and international authorities to take appropriate action, in line with humanitarian law and human decency.
75 Years have passed since peace treaties after the Second World War were signed in Paris. What we are experiencing right now is a threat to freedom and to the values that we hold so dearly. Humanitarian crises should concern every individual and government around the world. Many events are unfortunately following shortly one after another around the globe, including wars and environmental catastrophes and every event that accounts for the unjust loss of human lives must be addressed equally.
As residents and citizens of Europe, we cannot understate our grief and disappointment regarding the emerging situation and at the thought of the burden it will bring on human and environmental wellbeing. We are sad to see this regression to a time of bitter division instead of solidarity, and reiterate our call for the cessation of hostilities on our continent and the planet.
As health professionals of tomorrow, we believe that life and dignity always have to be protected and their value preserved, no matter what the surrounding political circumstances are. We recognise the importance of alleviating not only human pain and disease, but also the determinants that cause them.
Find the full press relealse here : European Medical Organisations call on EU and Member States to coordinate humanitarian aid.
CEOM celebrates international day of the medical profession
30.10.2021WMA RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF AN INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE MEDICAL PROFESSION, OCTOBER 30
Adopted by the 71st dopted by the 71 WMA General Assembly (online), Cordoba, Spain, October 2020
WMA General Assembly (online), Cordoba, Spain, October 2020. On the eve of the WMA General Assembly, Córdoba 2020, we are facing an escalation of the COVID-19 pandemic around the world and an alarming exponential pressure on healthcare professionals.The WMA and its members request that October 30 be recognised as the International Day of the MedicalProfession as a tribute to the commitment of physicians to the service of humankind, to the health and well-being of their patients, in the respect the ethical values of the profession.
50th anniversary of CEOM
29.10.2021At the plenary meeting on 29th October 2021, CEOM celebrates the 50th anniversary of its creation.
CEOM Plenary meeting - 29 October in Roma
29.10.2021All documents and information are in the meetings section
The CEOM Board members for the 2021-2024* term are :
Dr. José SANTOS, President
Ordem dos Medicos (Portuguese Medical Association)
Dr. Roland KERZMANN, 1st Vice-President
Ordre des Médecins de Belgique (Belgian Medical Council)
Dr. Nicolino D’AUTILIA, Vice-President
Federazione Nazionale Ordini Medici Chirurghi e Odontoiatri (National Federation of the orders of Doctors and Dental surgeons)
Dr.Konstantinos KOUTSOPOULOS, Vice-President
Panhellenic Medical Association (Greek Medical Association)
Dr. Gheorghe BORCEAN, Vice-President
Colegiul Medicilor din Romania (Romanian College of Physicians)
Dr. Jean-François RAULT, Secretary General
Conseil national de l’Ordre des Médecins de France (French Medical Council)
CEOM declaration on vaccination
29.10.2021Since spring 2020, the world has been facing a major health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The consequences of this crisis on the health and well-being of the population are disastrous.
- This situation requires urgent collective action.
- As long as the level of protection of the population through vaccination is not sufficient, the fight against this virus will be difficult and will entail significant sacrifices on the part of the population.
CEOM calls on physicians, health professionals, health authorities and all stakeholders to work collectively for the vaccination of the population against COVID-19.
- CEOM recalls that physicians involved in the COVID-19 vaccination programme have a major role to play in independently monitoring the safety and efficacy of the vaccine and in ensuring continuous follow-up throughout the vaccination campaign.
- CEOM calls on physicians and health professionals to be vaccinated in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19, especially to their patients, and to publicly demonstrate their confidence in vaccination.
CEOM stresses that public confidence in the medical profession is essential to help people make the right choices about this means of prevention. On the basis of the patient's health status, the doctor ensures that he or she is eligible for vaccination, informs the patient correctly and ensures that he or she freely consents to being vaccinated. He/she carefully monitors possible side effects and reports them immediately to the authority.
- CEOM, a member of the European Coalition for Immunisation, calls on European governments to promote access to this vaccine for all people, both in Europe and worldwide.
CEOM statement in support of the Portuguese Medical Association
29.10.2021CEOM (European Council of Medical Orders) become aware of the approval, by the Portuguese Parliament, of a project that aims to change the statutes of professional orders, reducing their ability to defend its members and with direct interference of political power in these institutions, inadmissible in democratic regimes. Specifically, with regard to the medical profession, it was with perplexity that this news was received. CEOM Plenary meeting expresses total solidarity to the Portuguese Medical Association and to Portuguese doctors, who have performed a remarkable job in managing the pandemic crisis and in the presentation of solutions for a better health system. We remind that it is the European legislation itself that provides for the regulation of the medical profession, given its complexity and direct impact on the lives of our citizens. Thus, CEOM is watching with great concern the path that Portugal is following, contrary to what happens in other associations of doctors or similar European associations, which can have a very negative impact on the quality of medicine provided not only in Portugal, but throughout the entire Europe.
CEOM Plenary meeting, Rome, 29 October 2021
CEOM Board endorses the Portuguese Medical Association Statement on the quality of medical specialties in Portugal
23.09.2021The CEOM Board expresses its deepest concern having been alerted by its Portuguese member of the risk of lowering the quality of some medical specialties such as the general practitioners.
Quality of medicine is crucial, even more at a time when the evolution of medicine has been exponential and when the burden of chronic diseases will represent a great challenge for the health system and patient safety.
It is of the utmost importance that the quality of care and especially primary care be guaranteed by the Portuguese National Authorities.
European Medical Organisations face an increase in all types of acts of physical, emotional, and psychological violence against healthcare professionals.
21.06.2021PRESS RELEASE
In 2021 the World Health Organisation celebrates the International Year of Health and Care Workers. Despite this, European Medical Organisations face an increase in all types of acts of physical, emotional, and psychological violence against healthcare professionals. This is confirmed in the alarming finding of the FEMS survey about burnout of physicians in Europe. European Medical Organisations reaffirm that they stand in complete solidarity with their colleagues who are in the front line of the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
European Medical Organisations strongly urge governments to reconsider how healthcare systems value the wellbeing of healthcare professionals in their daily practice together along with the wellbeing of the patients they serve every day and the community of employees who work with them. Medicine should be, and must remain, a safe place to work.
The ongoing pandemic has reaffirmed the central role of physicians in ensuring the stability and wellbeing of our societies. On the 12th of March of this year, European Medical Organisations marked the second European Awareness Day on Violence against Doctors and other Healthcare Professionals and committed themselves to acknowledging and addressing those factors contributing to violence against doctors including exhaustion and burnout.
We call on European governments and health authorities, to provide all healthcare staff with a safe working environment and adequate mechanisms to prevent any type of violence so as to decrease the risk of exhaustion and burnout for all healthcare professionals, and to deploy all necessary means to protect the physical and psychological integrity of our colleagues during this pandemic and beyond.
These healthcare professionals, whom we applaud, deserve admiration, respect, appreciation, and protection. European Medical Organisations also pay tribute to all healthcare professionals who sadly lost their lives in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Find the full press release here: European Medical Organisations face an increase in all types of acts of physical, emotional, and psychological violence against healthcare professionals.