11/06/2010

Council of Ministers

• The Plan outlines eight actions in the area of public health which are aimed at guaranteeing people’s health and the normal functioning of public services during the summer period.
• Foremost among these measures are those aimed at combating the effects of high temperatures and also at avoiding risks on journeys during the school holidays

The Council of Ministers today approved the plan for measures and actions in the area of health and social policy for the summer period. This plan outlines eight specific actions which are aimed at guaranteeing people’s health at this time of year, as well as the normal functioning of public services during these months.

The approved actions will focus on different areas, including those related to travel and the prevention of the effects on health of high temperatures.

The planned actions in this area are as follows:

• The campaign ‘International travel and health’ for raising awareness in the population of the need to consult an international vaccination centre prior to travelling abroad, and for the prevention, as far as possible, of health risks which may result from travel. The campaign is aimed both at the public in general and at those working in the international travel sector, as well as at health professionals working in prevention.
• Within the programme ‘Travel and drugs’, the campaign ‘Don’t buy, take or traffic in drugs abroad’, of the IDEAS Foundation (Ramón Rubial - ‘Spaniards in the World’ Institute), financed by the Government Delegation for the National Plan on Drugs, will be extended. The aim of the campaign is to raise public awareness of the risks of any contact with drugs abroad.
• The ‘Prevention’ campaign against the effects of high temperatures, which is implemented every year to prevent and/or reduce the negative effects on health of excessive heat, especially in the most vulnerable population groups such as children and the elderly.
• Within the National Plan of preventive actions against the negative health effects of excessive temperatures, actions will be implemented in the field of attending those at greatest risk and especially vulnerable, such as the elderly, the disabled and those with a high level of dependency.

The 2010 National Plan of preventive actions against the negative health effects of excessive temperatures was set in motion on 1 June and it set out the measures necessary for reducing the effects associated with excessive heat during the summer period and for coordinating the actions of the Authorities involved, as well as the participation of public and private bodies.

It assesses the magnitude of the problem and specifies preventative and control measures by providing temperature predictions and advance information to the public, health professionals and responsible bodies. In addition it lays down criteria for spotting the risks associated with exposure to excessive temperatures, as well as coordination mechanisms in applying the plan.

FOODS AND MEDICINES

The action plan approved by the Council of Ministers also outlines various actions in the area of foods and medicines, which will be implemented by the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN) and the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS).

Specifically, these actions are as follows:

• AESAN will implement preventative actions to combat food infections and intoxications during the summer, in collaboration with regional governments, with the aim of avoiding the seasonal increase of foodborne illnesses.
• AEMPS, for its part, will present a guide on the correct use of medicines in the case of a heat wave, with specific recommendations for the use of drugs requiring special attention in high temperatures.
• Also, AEMPS will collaborate in the ‘Paso del Estrecho’ (Crossing the Straits) operation, providing the necessary medicines to boost supplies in the affected areas.
• In addition, the Agency for Medicines and Health Products will provide information on its website regarding the main active properties of medicines which can affect the ability to drive and which, as a result, should include the warning pictogram ‘Driving: see directions for use’ on their packaging so as to warn the user.