EU health: The European Commission has introduced a new public health website which is intended to act as a single point of reference for information on a wide range of health topics. Health-EU is available at http://health.europa.eu.
Unlike previous EC websites, it is primarily designed to provide information to citizens in a clear manner, rather than to simply publicise the commission's policy and work on health matters.
"The current websites are bureaucratic and not very user friendly because they have been designed by bureaucrats for bureaucrats," said John Ryan, head of the health information unit, at the commission's health directorate.
The Health-EU portal is divided into six main thematic areas - My Health, My Lifestyle, My Environment, Health Problems, Care for Me, and Health in the EU.
General information is provided on each topic followed by links to information on other websites such as the public health implications, relevant health indicators and research, advice for those suffering or at risk from diseases and EU policy.
Visitors to the site can also find links to websites in their country with further information on the particular topic they are browsing.
Health-EU will be available in all 20 official EU languages by the end of June and has been designed to be accessible by people with visual disabilities.
The site has been developed as part of the EU's Public Health Programme 2003-2008 and addresses the right of European citizens to have access to simple, clear and scientifically sound information on health matters, said Mr Ryan.
See http://health.europa.eu