COVID was paradigm shift for health policymaking, says Commissioner Stella Kyriakides

In an exclusive interview in conjunction with Euronews Health Summit tomorrow, outgoing Cypriot Commissioner Kyriakides highlighted how the pandemic marked a turning point for EU health policy.

"With COVID, we witnessed a paradigm shift in health. It showed us that we are stronger when we work together and coordinate as member states,” she said.

Kyriakides, who took office in 2019, originally focused on revamping the EU's pharmaceutical industry, tackling antimicrobial resistance, and advancing key initiatives like the European Health Data Space and the EU's Beating Cancer Plan.

The Data Space and the EU Critical Medicines Strategy are among topics that will be discussed at the Summit.

However, the arrival of COVID-19 reshaped her mandate, leading to the creation of the European Health Union to bolster preparedness and resilience in health systems.

Reflecting on her tenure, Kyriakides emphasized the shift toward a more holistic approach, which considers all health-related factors, including climate change.

“Looking back, there are always areas where things could have been done differently. But what we achieved is a fundamental change in how we perceive health,” she noted.

Ongoing priorities

One of the Commissioner’s proudest achievements was the successful delivery of vaccines to all EU member states simultaneously during the pandemic. “That moment was very special in my mandate,” Kyriakides recalled.

Looking ahead, she stressed that the next European Commission's priority must be to maintain health at the top of the political agenda. The focus will shift toward implementing the many decisions made under the European Health Union.

Major initiatives like addressing mental health and advancing the Beating Cancer Plan will continue to require attention from the next leadership team.

Kyriakides underscored the importance of integrating mental health into all policies, placing it on equal footing with physical health. Certain elements of the Beating Cancer Plan, particularly those targeting alcohol and tobacco consumption, remain unfinished.

The next Commission and challenges ahead

Health responsibilities in the next Commission will be distributed among several Commissioners, including Health Commissioner-designate Oliver Varhelyi, Preparedness Commissioner Hadja Lahbib, and Executive Vice President Stéphane Séjourné.

Kyriakides expressed confidence that this division would not hinder progress. “It’s going to work effectively because you need a horizontal approach anyway,” she said, noting that in her mandate, up to 13 Commissioners contributed to the Beating Cancer Plan. "Health needs to be viewed across all policies to develop comprehensive strategies," she added.

However, the nomination of Hungary's Oliver Varhelyi as Health Commissioner has sparked debate. A close ally of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Varhelyi has limited experience in health, raising questions about whether the European Parliament will approve his appointment.

Despite this, Kyriakides remains optimistic, asserting that von der Leyen’s team “will be well-prepared and able to engage.”

She emphasised the importance of collaboration between the Commission, the European Parliament, and the EU Council in implementing health policies over the next five years.

“The European Parliament has been a vital partner throughout the past five years, and building that relationship will be the first step,” she concluded.