This paper outlines recommendations to EU institutions, national governments and relevant groups in Europe concerning the COVID-19 response and recovery plans with regard to chronic diseases.

The lessons from this crisis must be learnt. The proposals aim to support reflections on preparedness for potential future pandemics or other crises, which may occur as a result of factors like climate change; but also to reinforce healthcare systems’ capacity to achieve long-term public health objectives.

• COVID-19 exemplifies the need for better prevention and control of chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) across Europe
• Prevention and optimal management of chronic diseases must be integral to the COVID-19 response and recovery plans
• Rethinking the EU capacity in healthcare appears more than ever fundamental to better protect citizens and set up a European Health Union

This papers covers: 1) implications of the COVID-19 crisis for chronic disease care and for patients; 2) Lessons learned from COVID-19: needs and solutions to improve chronic disease care; and 3) Implementing these learnings into EU and national policy.

The new EU4Health Programme as well as national-level programmes should dedicate increased and sufficient resources to chronic disease prevention and optimal management, seeing this as long-term public health investment, in parallel with the budget allocated to infectious diseases and future crisis preparedness.

All the actions proposed herewith would pave the way towards a “European Union of Health”, as desired by EU citizens and supported by the European Parliament and several EU Member States.

Read the full paper here.