92002E3206

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3206/02

by Kathleen Van Brempt (PSE) to the Commission

(11 November 2002)

Subject: Medical errors

Researchers say that approximately 108 000 people die in United States and Canada every year as a result of medical errors. An error occurs in seven percent of all medical treatments: medicines are administered too early or too late, the wrong medicine is used or the dose is incorrect. In 0,32 % of these cases the outcome is fatal. The figures are exactly the same for emergency cases. In almost a third of all reported cases, medical error is the result of negligence. Belgian researchers estimate that the same figures apply to Belgium.

Can the Commission confirm these estimates?

Does the Commission have figures for medical errors in the European Union? If so can it disclose them?

What is the Commission doing to cut the number of medical errors?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(9 December 2002)

Under the EC Treaty, the organisation and delivery of health services and medical care are the responsibility of the Member States, not of the Community (Article 152, paragraph 5).

The Commission does not therefore have a role in systematically monitoring specific medical errors in the Union. However, under the health information system, which will be part of the new public health Community action programme, the Commission will be developing a set of health indicators, which will include indicators concerning avoidable causes of death as well as iatrogenic diseases and death (calculated risks to health as a result of medical actions, incorporating medical errors). These health indicators are foreseen to be collected by the Member States and to be stored in the Euphin-system (European Public Health Information System). On the basis of the outcome of this data-collection further initiatives may be considered.