Health Literacy: a way forward to better health decisions European Life Science Circle Brussels, 4 March 2009

1. Health Literacy: a way forward to better health decisions European Life Science CircleBrussels, 4 March 2009 Scott C. Ratzan, MD, MPAVice President, Global HealthGovernment AffairsJohnson & Johnson

2. Guiding Principle for Advancing Health: Health Literacy for the public good “Informed opinion and active cooperation on the part of the public are of the utmost importance in the improvement of health of the people.” World Health Organization Preamble to the Constitution

3. Citizens Empowerment by participation in decision-making, as well as other competencies including “Health Literacy” "Together for Health - A Strategic Approach for the EU, 2008-2013" • [The EU High Level Pharmaceutical Forum] stresses the need to enhance health literacy as a policy at EU and Member State levels. Recommends that future EU policy on information to patients on diseases and treatments should move towards new approaches in a coordinated manner, built on dialogue with stakeholders, promoting health literacy and health information in the broadest sense. Final Conclusions and Recommendations, 21 Oct 2008

4. Health Literacy Challenges Most people cannot understand health information they need It’s hard to be a patient these days andit’s easy to mess up An issue of quality - essential for selfmanagement, reducing disparities andreducing costs Health literacy linked to self-management as cross cutting priority

5. Health Literacy ….“the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions.” Ratzan and Parker, NLM Complete Bibliographies of Medicine, 2000 USDHHS, Healthy People 2010 Institute of Medicine, 2006

6. HealthLiteracy Framework Health Literacy

8. Our Goal: Health for the public good “The extension to all peoples of the benefits of medical, psychological and related knowledge is essential to the fullest attainment of health.” World Health Organization Preamble to the Constitution

9. Health Literacy on the agenda • Considered for OECD • On Ministerial agenda for United Nations • Integrated in US health reform • Potential in EU and Member States • Considered as “new” health diplomacy

10. Health Literacy is broader than Information to Patients challenge • Harmonized access to high quality information on health and prescription medicines from multiple sources – including the pharmaceutical industry - is needed. • Information based on clearly defined quality criteria & a code of practice - No Direct-to-Consumer Advertising. • Information only on request – no TV, no radio nor print mass media, but brochures, leaflets on request are and remain an important format. For further reference see www.efpia.org

11. Thank you!