Kansanterveyden valiokunta

On 18 March 2026, in the context of the SANT legislative own-initiative report on the EU Rare Disease Action Plan, a workshop on rare diseases will take place, where experts will present key insights on the situation of rare diseases in the European Union, the main challenges faced by patients, and recommendations for EU action, followed by a discussion with Members of the SANT Committee.

On 19 of March, at the joint SANT-ITRE committee meeting, Olivér Várhelyi, Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare, will present the European Biotech Act, which will be followed by a Q&A session with Members.

On 19 March, SANT Members will hold another exchange of views in the series ‘Excellence in health science’ with Professor Roel Vermeulen, Distinguished University Professor at Utrecht University and lead author of the STOA study on the exposome.

International Women’s Day celebrates women’s achievements while calling for faster progress toward gender equality. Globally, women hold only 64% of the legal rights granted to men, facing disadvantages in areas such as work, income, safety, property, and retirement. At the current pace, closing these legal gaps could take 286 years, highlighting the urgent need for stronger justice systems and meaningful reform.

Overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health. World Obesity Day calls for coordinated global action to tackle the obesity crisis.

Endometriosis Awareness Week highlights endometriosis, a chronic inflammatory condition in which tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus. Pain is a primary symptom and can significantly impact quality of life.

World Hearing Day raises awareness of the global impact of hearing loss, which affects over 1.5 billion people worldwide including 90 million children and adolescents, across all parts of the world, many with preventable and treatable causes. Around 30% of people over 60 are also affected.

Sleep Awareness Month, aligning with World Sleep Day (on Friday, March 13), highlights the importance of healthy sleep and its impact on global well-being — reminding us that we spend about one‑third of our lives asleep. With roughly 30% of adults facing insomnia and 70 million people battling sleep disorders annually, the stakes are high. Poor sleep is also closely linked to chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.

On 2nd of March, in the view of the upcoming World Hearing Day, Members of the SANT committee held an exchange of views with the two experts, Professor Doctor Paul van de Heyning and Doctor Patrick D’Haese, which was followed by the debate.