EURO HEALTH Podcast

In this episode, host Jiři Svoboda is pleased to welcome Dr. Ernest Groman for the second time in the EuroHealth Podcast to discuss the progresses made in tackling tobacco addiction. We discuss different approach to regulation, taxation, and strategies to reduce the harm caused by smoking. Giving a critical assessment of the policymakers’ approach to restriction, Dr. Groman provides insights into how emerging products, such as e-cigarettes, can play a role in reducing smoking prevalence… if regulated right!   🗣SPEAKER Dr. Ernest Groman serves as a professor at the Medical Faculty of the University of Vienna and as the scientific director of the Vienna Nicotine Institute, where he leads efforts to study and mitigate the health impacts of nicotine and tobacco use. Since 2002, he has been involved in the development and implementation of smoking cessation programs in Lower Austria.   Doc. Groman also worked as a Scientific Advisor to the Austrian government, the Austrian Pharmaceutical Chamber, and the Austrian smoking cessation hotline. He represented Austria as a delegate to the WHO in the context of the negotiations on the Global Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.   Known for his pragmatic and evidence-based approach, he advocates for informed health policies, drawing from his deep understanding of addiction and public health dynamics in Austria and the broader European Union.   👀 FOLLOW US   Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/27oZmDwhNxNdWWW0IvqnVm?si=8e87042ce82d4a56 Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/euro-health-podcast/id1573732306 X: https://x.com/EuroHealthP

Struggling with illnesses put patients on a long, and sometimes hard, path to healing. Struggling with mental illnesses, which are often invisible and burdened with stigma, brings unexpected obstacles on patients’ journeys and experiences. How can their involvement in care help their recovery? We asked Peter Keri, president of GAMIAN-Europe, a prominent voice for patients struggling with their mental health in Europe.   People struggling with mental illnesses are significantly burdened in their healing by circumstances that surround and affect them, leading them to more struggles and hampering their full recovery. Listening to them and involving them in decisions over their care is crucial to remove these barriers and obstacles – stigma being the most important of them, leading to self-doubt, social exclusion, lack of access to care, and slowing the recovery process.   Although the Covid-19 pandemic was wrongly defined as a “mental health pandemic” – mental health struggles aren’t communicable diseases, after all – the increased discourse about the effects on mental health of lockdowns and living through difficult times helped normalized conversations around mental health. Raising awareness, however, is not enough: to improve the conditions of patients who struggle with mental ill-health, policymakers need to enact concrete policies.   What does the experience of a person affected with mental health conditions look like nowadays? Are patients listened to, both in healthcare and by policymakers? How does stigma, an all-encompassing, multi-faceted issue, affect the recovery journey of patients? How can advocates go beyond awareness raising to enact a true change? Peter Keri will get rid of all of your doubts in this episode of the Europe Health Podcast.   🗣SPEAKER   Péter Kéri is the President of GAMIAN-Europe, a pan-European organisation, representing the interests of persons affected by mental illness.   Mr Kéri worked for several years in advanced travel management, which led to a decade-long career organizing specialized group travel for multinational companies. His life changed when, at 43 years of age, he was diagnosed with schizophrenia: this experience led him on a healing journey where he understood the importance of raising awareness on the experiences of patients struggling with their mental health. 👀 FOLLOW US   Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/27oZmDw... [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbWFMQ0N1elpuQ1RKNWhmRXNtS0d0bTlqdGNWZ3xBQ3Jtc0tsWV9NU05fZlVwcTIxbTZnVGYyMFhOaHZGSXgwRmJqUEI3ZFpwR1pKYjNZNHhLamhuMlRoRWdTdjl2TGtZNnllUFZObEFyWjdiSEJOSnRqcTNXNmI5YnRsdUdILUNqeGk5ejVnQWI3NkJaRVo0YzNaZw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fopen.spotify.com%2Fshow%2F27oZmDwhNxNdWWW0IvqnVm%3Fsi%3D8e87042ce82d4a56&v=lNl1oqYzulA] Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbkZmYm92RnBhcDFVazZCTmd3cjh2Mzh3aVhpUXxBQ3Jtc0tsVzNPTW5MeVQxQkpUX29pZnUwSWNZOW5aeHpaLWQzdm9ONGRXZnBaTkh0YlBSam9rNHVLd0NPQzQxS2RpMVNEMm9wQzQtN0VvWmdOREgzUlltbElhT281NmlCYTRialRZdk5Ha2RyeGpGRWJtNnpkTQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fpodcasts.apple.com%2Fus%2Fpodcast%2Feuro-health-podcast%2Fid1573732306&v=lNl1oqYzulA] X: https://x.com/EuroHealthP [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbjB2bThjc2lMNnphM0NqdHRFajZTRUN3MW8xQXxBQ3Jtc0ttcmpGV3dwTGpkQ2VUU3FsWXdZUkxpY1N2VTF0cHlubG1pWk1zdWp4d0gwTWZYMTRfU2ZjeDFSZ0FJZnVUTG4taG1KMXBWcHNZYmtDU0E0NEtYeVZSUTI5Q1BqU0pJNTNmVDFpVExUemlVbWZaYmdQRQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fx.com%2FEuroHealthP&v=lNl1oqYzulA]

It’s a wrap! 2024 came to an end, and it’s been quite a year for European health policies. From the shift in focus to cardiovascular diseases to innovative approaches in the treatment of addictions, from holistic approaches in the treatment of mental health disorders to improving the conditions of patients through advocacy, the Euro Health Podcast was there to cover the developments in the European health policy landscape for you.  We had the pleasure to welcome distinguished guests - policymakers, patients advocates, experts, and brilliant scientists, to bring you a variety of voices and perspectives on the present and future of healthcare in Europe. Enjoy this interesting wrap up of our 2024 episodes, but remember that season 3 is not done yet - keep following us in 2025, new episodes await! In the meantime, re-listen to season 3 on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts:  E1 - Viktor Mravčík: Restrictive approach to drugs is driven by ideology | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUkNK4JYc6U&t=921s&ab_channel=EUROHEALTHPodcast] | Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/episode/141AwG5LtHjJtygQEwFbHo] | Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/viktor-mrav%C4%8D%C3%ADk-restrictive-approach-to-drugs-is-driven/id1573732306?i=1000658060133] E2 - Philippe Roux: Europe on the path to beating cancer | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGeh8AdbKos&t=3s&ab_channel=EUROHEALTHPodcast] | Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/episode/56XibsyiziGzShQg4A5PQS] | Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/philippe-roux-europe-on-the-path-to-beating-cancer/id1573732306?i=1000661123854]  E3 - Dimitrios Athanasiou: Legislation on new medicines is not brave enough | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCKo9arqJ2w&t=1236s&ab_channel=EUROHEALTHPodcast] | Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/episode/1KsZfbvAG1xbhv2hw6Onhd] | Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dimitrios-athanasiou-rare-diseases-not-as-rare-as-you-think/id1573732306?i=1000666210901]  E4 - Judit Bidló: Hungary’s agenda for EU health | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_kLZJcT_MI&t=419s&ab_channel=EUROHEALTHPodcast] | Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/episode/13oYk9FXQhOStVC4cacK1P] | Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/judit-bidl%C3%B3-hungarys-agenda-for-eu-health/id1573732306?i=1000670176574] E5 - Jane Mounteney: EUDA, Europe's new drug watchdog | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6c7De6zkX0&t=994s&ab_channel=EUROHEALTHPodcast] | Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/episode/1I9mRfrbrf71QRGRNUe4fK] | Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jane-mounteney-euda-europes-new-drug-watchdog/id1573732306?i=1000673295622]  E6 - Gabriele Fischer: Ending the stigma on substance use disorders (SUD) | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dm2GVzKSK1w&t=936s&ab_channel=EUROHEALTHPodcast] | Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/episode/1Nk6po598nYqJxmHzzIHVq] | Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gabriele-fischer-ending-the-stigma-on-substance-use/id1573732306?i=1000676783317]  Follow us on X: https://x.com/EuroHealthP [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa29wZTE3U2hJZ1E3ZjZyN0R6eHY5b2VNb0ZZQXxBQ3Jtc0tsXzc3YkJyV2h1bC1zc0JKU3lCa251UFZPUWp6V3BFNmNqUjJ2RnRicGUwOUdWZFFaeUx0RzItQnY2ZUlKRk54aTBKZURjOVRMamowSWZxTS1rVWY0bV92T3RCUERTOS0xWm9JRFZBNUdmT3BxTmdFMA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fx.com%2FEuroHealthP&v=jCKo9arqJ2w]

Did you know that addictions are mental health disorders? Despite the link not being obvious at first glance, it is clear for scientists and medical professionals: people suffering from substance use disorders should be treated first and foremost as psychiatric patients. Patients, however, still suffer from stigma from the general population, especially when it comes to people who consume drugs, and from being a low priority on the policymakers’ agenda. We discussed it with Dr. Gabriele Fischer, one of the leading European experts on substance use disorders and their treatment.   Addictions can touch many aspects of people’s lives – it’s not only about illicit substances, but also addictions coming from licit substances, such as eating disorders and gaming addictions. These should not be underestimated and come not only with their costs for public health budgets, but also with their burden on society in general.    How are mental health disorders and addictions connected? Who are the population groups most vulnerable to developing substance use disorders, and what are the best prevention options? What are the most effective treatments? Are there differences between addictions to licit and illicit substances? What are policymakers doing about this, and what can be done to raise awareness on evidence-based solutions? Dr. Fischer will reply to these and other questions in this episode of the Euro Health Podcast!   🗣SPEAKER   Dr. Fischer is the Medical Director of the Addiction Clinic at the Medical University of Vienna’s Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy.    Her work focuses on mental health and addiction, and she is specialized in both substance-related and behavioral addictions. With a career in addiction treatment beginning in 1994, she brings extensive experience treating addiction and associated mental health issues, while also contributing to advancing research in this field.   Dr. Fischer is deeply involved in medical education and has published extensively on addiction. She has led multiple research projects, and has played a key role in developing treatment strategies for addiction disorders. Her international collaborations include work with the World Health Organization, the UNODC, and the Austrian Supreme Health Council, and she is a member of the Scientific Board of the European Union Drugs Agency. 🎙 EURO HEALTH PODCAST Euro Health Podcast focuses on European health policy by giving voice to leading experts. The goal is to bring complex and evidence-based information, which could lead to a better Europe. Podcast is hosted by Jiří Svoboda. 👀 FOLLOW US   Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/27oZmDwhNxNdWWW0IvqnVm?si=8e87042ce82d4a56 Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/euro-health-podcast/id1573732306 X: https://x.com/EuroHealthP

One of the world’s leading scientific hubs in the field of drugs and addiction is the European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drugs Addictions (EMCDDA), which this summer acquired a new mandate and name, becoming the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA). We asked Dr. Jane Mounteney, Head of the Public Health Union of the Agency, to guide us through this change.   The EMCDDA was born in the 1990s to face a health emergency in Europe, the heroine and HIV epidemics. Thanks to its incessant and high-quality scientific work, it became an internationally recognised authority in the field of drugs and addictions, and significantly impacted the sector’s landscape in the continent, also thanks to the introduction of approaches like harm reduction.   With respect to its predecessor, the EUDA acquired new responsibilities and a new mandate, such as a new focus on polydrug use and new tools for international and cross-border cooperation, while keeping collaborating with policymakers and civil society.   What are the reasons why the EMCDDA evolved into the EUDA? What changed in the drugs and drug addiction landscape in Europe in the last decades? What is the impact of the scientific and evidence-based approaches developed by the Agency, such as the harm reduction approach? How does the Agency intend to address new challenges, such as the combined consumption of licit and illicit drugs? Let Dr. Mounteney introduce you through this season of change in this episode of the Euro Health Podcast!   🗣SPEAKER   Dr. Jane Mounteney is the Head of the Public Health Union at the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA).    She has been involved in drug research, policy, and practice since 1994. In 2010, Dr. Mounteney joined the EMCDDA, renamed EUDA following a revision of its mandate. In her role, she oversees key areas including epidemiology, policy, and practice related to drug use and its impact.   Throughout her career at the EUDA, Dr. Mounteney has been the lead writer on the European Drug Report and has published numerous scientific articles. Her work in this area has led to the establishment of various European and city-level systems and projects aimed at addressing these emerging challenges.  🎙 EURO HEALTH PODCAST Euro Health Podcast focuses on European health policy by giving voice to leading experts. The goal is to bring complex and evidence-based information, which could lead to a better Europe. Podcast is hosted by Jiří Svoboda. 👀 FOLLOW US   Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/27oZmDwhNxNdWWW0IvqnVm?si=8e87042ce82d4a56 Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/euro-health-podcast/id1573732306 X: https://x.com/EuroHealthP