Anales de la RANM

109 A N A L E S R A N M R E V I S T A F U N D A D A E N 1 8 7 9 FEAM’S ROLE IN SHAPING HEALTH POLICY IN EUROPE Breedveld F An RANM. 2026;143(01): 107 - 110 edness, climate adaptation, and food systems. While the concept is now firmly established in policy language, its implementation often remains fragmented, with medical consequences treated as downstream effects rather than central drivers of decision making. FEAM’s contribution to One Health debates is grounded in the clinical and public health implica- tions of interconnected risks. Zoonotic outbreaks, environmental degradation, and antimicrobial resistance translate directly into clinical burden, diagnostic uncertainty, and pressure on health systems. FEAM therefore argues for stronger integration of medical expertise into One Health governance structures, and for sustained invest- ment in prevention, surveillance, and early detection, rather than reliance on crisis driven responses. Education also plays a key role. FEAM supports the integration of One Health perspectives into medical education and continuing professional development, recognising that future clinicians will increasingly confront health challenges shaped by environmental and societal change. From a policy perspective, this requires coordi- nation across sectors and long term commitment, rather than isolated initiatives. Health systems resilience has emerged as a central theme in European debates following recent crises. Initiatives addressing prepared- ness, coordination, and supply security have generated valuable momentum, yet FEAM observes a tendency to frame resilience primarily in technical or logistical terms. From a medical standpoint, resilience is equally about people and institutions. Workforce shortages, burnout, and declining attractiveness of health professions represent structural risks which no emergency framework can compensate for. FEAM therefore places strong emphasis on workforce planning, training capacity, and profes- sional wellbeing as core components of resilient health systems. It also draws attention to the cumulative impact of regulatory and administra- tive burden on clinical practice. European policies, even when well intentioned, can contribute to complexity at the frontline. FEAM advocates for policy design which considers how new require- ments affect care delivery, professional time, and patient interaction, recognising that resilience depends as much on trust and engagement as on infrastructure. Medicines policy represents another area where European political priorities and clinical realities intersect directly. Shortages, unequal access, and medication waste have brought medicines policy back to the forefront of European debate, reinforced by concerns around geopolitical vulnerability and sustainability. Initiatives aimed at securing critical medicines and revising pharmaceutical legisla- tion reflect an ambition to strengthen European capacity and strategic autonomy. FEAM’s engagement in this area is shaped by the clinical consequences of policy choices. Shortages affect treatment decisions, continuity of care, and patient outcomes, particularly for vulnerable popula- tions and chronic conditions. FEAM contributes by highlighting how supply disruptions translate into clinical risk, and by supporting approaches which balance innovation incentives with afforda- bility, availability, and responsible use. Medication waste introduces an additional dimension, linking sustainability with access and efficiency, and FEAM supports evidence based strategies which involve clinicians, pharmacists, and patients. Health data governance has become one of the most complex and politically sensitive areas of European health policy. Initiatives such as the European Health Data Space promise improved care, more efficient research, and better public health intelli- gence, while raising questions around privacy, quality, and governance. FEAM approaches these debates from a clinical perspective, emphasising that data quality is a determinant of patient safety and scientific validity, not a technical detail. Clinicians are central to data generation and interpretation, yet they are often marginal- ised in governance discussions. FEAM argues that meaningful professional involvement is essential, both to ensure data reliability and to maintain patient trust in secondary data use. At the political level, FEAM recognises the tension between accessibility and protection, supporting frameworks which enable responsible data use while respecting confidentiality, proportionality, and ethical boundaries. Across all these priorities, FEAM maintains a strong commitment to scientific integrity as a guiding principle. European health policy increas- ingly operates under public scrutiny and political pressure, where uncertainty can be perceived as weakness. FEAM defends the role of honest scientific communication, including acknowl- edgement of limits and uncertainty, as a condition for trust between science, policy, and society. FEAM’s governance and working methods are designed to support this mission. The federation operates through committees and working groups aligned with its strategic priorities, drawing on experts nominated by member academies to ensure high scientific standards and diversity of perspectives. Outputs follow structured processes, including internal review and peer exchange, with careful attention to balance and clarity. The Secretariat plays a central role in coordina- tion, editing, and institutional continuity, while governance bodies provide strategic oversight and direction. With this structure, FEAM aims at increasing the number of bottom up projects while remaining as active on top-down initiatives to broaden the impact of its work on targeted topics. Looking ahead, FEAM aims to strengthen its role as a European reference point for medical science advice. This involves deeper and more