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MMD welcomes on board two new members - MEP Frédérique Ries and MEP Helmut Geuking!

30 May 2022

We are delighted to announce that two more MEPs have recently joined our interest group to elevate diabetes on the public agenda and foster key policy changes that will help improve the quality of life and health outcomes of the 32 million adults living with diabetes in the EU.

We are delighted to welcome Belgian MEP Frédérique Ries. A Vice President of Renew Europe, she has been a member of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) for more than 20 years. MEP Ries believes that health is a basic human right and advocates for strengthening cooperation on public health and guaranteeing that no one is left behind in the response and recovery phase of the COVID-19 pandemic and in the long term.

Across Europe, people living with diabetes (PwD) face significant inequalities in access to care, exacerbated by the recent advances in treatment options and new technologies and tools. Action is required across a number of dimensions to promote access and reduce inequalities, implement patient-centred and value-based care models, improve education and support for both PwD and HCPs, and increase health and digital literacy. The diabetes community is very appreciative of having MEP Ries’ support to tackle social and health inequalities for people living with diabetes and put their needs higher up on the public agenda of the EP.

We are also thrilled to have MEP Helmut Geuking (EPP, Germany) join the MMD interest group this month! MEP Geuking is a member of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) in the European Parliament and is passionate about the protection of children’s rights.

The Europe Region has the highest number of children and adolescents living with Type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune disease whereby the immune system destroys the body’s insulin-producing cells. Many studies highlight the fact that children who live with Type 1 diabetes have poorer health outcomes but also experience worse educational outcomes. We are delighted to have MEP Geuking’s support in identifying how we can improve diabetes treatment for young people and provide them with necessary mental support and self-management education so that they can lead long, healthy and fulfilling lives.