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To include health issues in all policies as well as workers’ health are the two main health topics of the forthcoming Finnish EU Presidency, according to Professor Pekka Puska, Director-General of the Finnish National Public Health Institute.
“All over Europe, the share of working age population is shrinking and at the same time, there is a lot of disability and absenteeism. So, the health of workers and of the workforce is crucial for socio-economic development. It is linked both to mental and physical health”, he declared in an interview with EurActiv, a portal on EU affairs.
He also announced that a meeting of experts on “Health in all policies” would be held in Finland next September. At the end of August, prior to this conference, a large background report will be published and will serve as a basis for further discussions. After the meeting, the Presidency will draft the conclusions for the Health Council.
Finland’s six-month EU Presidency begins on July 1st, 2006.
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