The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said that the health of Hungarians has “in general been improving”, as has the health of those in Europe, but the country still has a way to go.
The comments were made during WHO’s regional committee meeting being held in Budapest between September 11-14.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said an urgent response is needed to stop demographic decline in Europe, but added that the problem needs to be resolved through the strengthening of family policies rather than through migration.
Speaking at the opening of WHO’s regional committee meeting, the prime minister said Hungary’s position on mass migration is that it needs to be stopped at its place of origin. He also claimed that Europe has all the means to launch targeted health schemes for areas where they are most needed.
According to MTI, the prime minister briefed participants on Hungary’s current action plan for workplace protection, demographics and public health.
He outlined how Hungary aims to eliminate unemployment, to ensure biological reproduction and to fight smoking and unhealthy foods. PM Orbán also said that Hungary stands with WHO, “you can rely on us and we would like to think we can rely on you in the future," he said.
Hungary is committed to improving the health of its citizens and healthcare systems, as well as ensuring equal access to healthcare services, which will also be the main topics of WHO’s regional committee meeting.
The meeting has brought together more than 600 representatives of 53 WHO member states. Participants include Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO’s new director general, as well as the Crown Princess of Denmark, a patron of WHO Europe and Alexis Tsipras, the prime minister of Greece, among others.