L. whereas, according to Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the right to health is a human right, and whereas universal access to healthcare is essential for achieving the MDGs; whereas health conditions have deteriorated in all Central Asian republics following the break-up of the Soviet Union and health systems are in crisis; whereas the potential spill-over effects of epidemics such as HIV/AIDS and drug-resistant tuberculosis present a long-term threat to the EU; whereas the avian flu crisis has demonstrated the capacity of infectious diseases to travel rapidly across Europe; whereas the social consequences ...[+++]of the health crises in the various countries threaten their overall stability and development prospects, and have implications for European security,

L. whereas, according to Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the right to health is a human right, and whereas universal access to healthcare is essential for achieving the MDGs; whereas health conditions have deteriorated in all Central Asian republics following the break-up of the Soviet Union and health systems are in crisis; whereas the potential spill-over effects of epidemics such as HIV/AIDS and drug-resistant tuberculosis present a long-term threat to the EU; whereas the avian flu crisis has demonstrated the capacity of infectious diseases to travel rapidly across Europe; whereas the social consequences ...[+++]of the health crises in the various countries threaten their overall stability and development prospects, and have implications for European security,

This purpose of this Regulation is to achieve the objectives of the " Programme for Action: Accelerated action on HIV/AIDS, malaria and TB in the context of poverty reduction" by setting up a system enabling pharmaceutical producers to sell developing countries essential medicines at reduced prices while ensuring that these products do not find their way back to the EU.

EUROPA - EU law and publications - EUR-Lex - EUR-Lex - l21166 - EN // Essential medicines for developing countries (HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria)

To put this into context, more people will die in the European Union from the effects of a strain of TB that is drug-resistant than will be affected by avian flu.

NOTES WITH CONCERN that according to the most recent data published by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) , healthcare-associated infections caused by multi-drug resistant microorganisms are on the rise.