Public Affairs
Digestive Health Group
Learn about mission and activities of this group of MEPs from different political groups and Member States.
Striving towards increased health literacy and real political impact
To strengthen our advocacy work, we are building alliances and are in constant dialogue with health stakeholders in Europe, working together on delivering positive change at policy level across Europe.
To ensure that our messages reflect the united voice of the broad community we represent, UEG engages in a series of public awareness campaigns every year.
WHO Europe at UEG Week 2023
Building on our long-standing relations with WHO Europe, we welcomed WHO Europe Regional Director, Dr. Hans P. Kluge, at UEG Week in Copenhagen, where he participated in the panel discussion on "Hospitals in Crisis" and shared the European perspective on this major public health challenge.
Dr. Kluge also joined us for an in-depth interview to discuss the current challenges and future scenarios for public health in Europe, with a particular focus on the impact on digestive health.
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Our main public awareness campaigns are:
Digestive Health Month
With World Digestive Health Day on May 29, we celebrate Digestive Health Month each May with a public awareness campaign focused on on a particular digestive health-related topic.
Find Digestive Health Month content and discussions on Twitter via #DigestiveHealthMonth.
World Cancer Day
On February 4, we join the European cancer community in a global initiative to raise public awareness, improve education and drive government action.
In this context, we advocate for better research, prevention and treatment to reduce the social and economic burden of digestive cancers.
Colorectal Cancer Month
March is Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Awareness Month – a month long public awareness campaign focused on the importance of prevention, early diagnosis and burden of CRC. Every year, we disseminate information on the incidence of colorectal cancer and stress on the need for implementing screening programmes via social media and newsletters.
In 2023, we also supported Digestive Cancers Europe (DiCE) and their initiative for the European Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month (ECCAM): StepApp for CRC, a free mobile app that counts your steps.
World Liver Day
On 19 April 2024, we come together worldwide to commemorate World Liver Day, a vital occasion aimed at raising awareness about liver health and the prevalence of liver diseases worldwide. This initiative is led by the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL), the Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver (APASL), the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), the Asociacion Latinoamericana para el Estudio del Higado (ALEH), and the Society on Liver Disease in Africa (SOLDA), under the Healthy Livers, Healthy Lives Coalition umbrella.
UEG is happy to be a supporting partner of the campaign, joining forces to amplify the global efforts.
Visit the campaign website
World Pancreatic Cancer Day
November 21, 2024 marked World Pancreatic Cancer Day (WPCD).
To mark the occasion, UEG joined forces with the European Pancreatic Club (EPC), Pancreatic Cancers Europe (PCE), Digestive Cancers Europe (DiCE) and Cancer Patients Europe (CPE) to draw attention to the urgent need for improved early detection and increased research funding for pancreatic cancer.
Awareness Week on Alcohol Related Harm
From December 3-6, 2024, we partnered with the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL), European Alcohol Policy Alliance (Eurocare), the WHO Regional Office for Europe, and others NGOs for public awareness campaign at the European Parliament.
The campaign, themed "Alcohol: The Right to Know," highlighted the negative effects of alcohol and advocated for stronger policy action such as mandatory alcohol labeling. It featured an interactive exhibition stand emphasizing citizens' right to know what’s in their alcoholic drinks, empowering them to make informed health choices.
Video message (AWARH 2023) - Patrizia Burra, Chair of UEG Public Affairs Group
Video message (AWARH 2023) - Ana Dugic, Member of UEG Public Affairs Group
Malnutrition Awareness Week 2024: “From Awareness to Control”
In November, 16 European countries will participate in Malnutrition Awareness Weeks 2024, raising awareness and advocating for equal access to nutritional care.
UEG together with other European stakeholders (patients, healthcare professionals, policymakers, and decision-makers) supports the campaign to raise awareness about malnutrition and to advocate for equal access to nutritional care for European citizens.
Prof. Olle Ljungqvist, Chair of ENHA, stated:
“Malnutrition affects millions in Europe. These Weeks aim to drive real action and ensure every citizen gets the nutritional care they need.”
To follow and support the campaign on social media: #MAW2024 @ONCAcampaign @europeannutrition
Our partnerships
