With 10% of the EU population born preterm and suffering long-term health consequences as a result, health experts, WHO officials, EU policy makers and parent representatives, have come together to address the dramatic health inequalities of these infants and their families, both globally and throughout Europe.

 

Europe faces a major challenge in relation to maternal and newborn health as quality of care varies widely across the EU according to the outcomes of an EFCNI (European Foundation for the Care of Newborn Infants)  and WHO ( the World Health Organization)  event.

This is compounded in the case of vulnerable groups, including preterm infants, who require specialist care and attention that is not always provided.

The event, held last 5 March, organised in association with the Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU, comes further to a WHO Report1 from May 2012 that identified that preterm birth is the second leading cause of death globally for children under five. With the rate of preterm birth growing in most countries, the participants called for more work to be done to fight health complications and morbidities. Supported by EFCNI and WHO partners, participants called for maternal and newborn health to become a public health policy priority for all European governments.

Dr Angelika Niebler, MEP, demanded action “We cannot underestimate the importance of high quality maternal care and a healthy birth. We need to ensure that all Europeans are able to have healthy pregnancies and enjoy the best possible start to life, irrespective of their background or nationality. European and national policy makers need to work together to make this a reality. EFCNI and the WHO have made an important contribution to bringing attention to the problems, which are clearly linked to issues high on the European policy agenda, such as chronic conditions.”

Silke Mader, Chairwoman of the Executive Board of EFCNI, commented “Preterm infants constitute Europe’s largest child patient group who are at a higher risk of developing both short and long term health complications. No less than one in ten families need to cope with the health difficulties that come with preterm birth. There are solutions available for these families, but they are not being implemented.”

Some of the solutions discussed include the need to increase healthy pregnancies, effective maternal care and prevent preterm birth. Experts agreed that Caring for Tomorrow: EFCNI White Paper on Maternal and Newborn Health and Aftercare Services provides a good basis for identifying recommendations on how European health systems could improve. Emphasis was placed on the need to develop European high quality standards for prevention, treatment and long-term care, the support of greater research, education and exchange, as well as streamlined and targeted information for parents.

The event, in association with the Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU and in close collaboration with EFCNI’s national partners and European healthcare societies, was the first step towards developing standards of care for maternal and newborn health. Indeed, this meeting marks the establishment of an EU-wide network of stakeholders and parent representatives, led by EFCNI to create a way to benchmark existing care practices across Europe and establish recognised standards for delivering high quality care.