UEG Calls for EU Prioritization of Digestive Health in Upcoming Financial Plans

VIENNA, February 24, 2026 – United European Gastroenterology (UEG), representing over 50,000 digestive health professionals across Europe, is urging EU institutions to recognize digestive diseases as a priority within the EU Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028–2034 and to secure dedicated investment through FP10, the EU’s next Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, and other EU health funding instruments.

The Scale of Digestive Diseases in Europe

Digestive diseases affect approximately 332 million Europeans, yet remain under-recognized in EU funding despite contributing significantly to mortality, disability, inequalities, and economic loss. The call for increased investment highlights the preventable risk factors associated with several digestive cancers, the leading causes of cancer-related deaths.

Economic Impact of Digestive Illnesses

According to UEG White Book 2, digestive diseases impose a substantial economic burden on EU member states, costing around €25 billion annually in inpatient care (approximately 0.12% of GDP) and €89 billion in indirect productivity losses. UEG argues that even modest reductions in premature mortality related to digestive diseases could generate billions in annual savings, making prevention, innovation, and research strategic investments in Europe’s economic resilience. Source: PR Newswire

Key Recommendations from UEG

UEG is advocating for several key actions from EU policymakers:

• Prioritize Digestive Diseases in FP10: Dedicated calls for research focusing on prevention, digestive cancers, liver and immune-mediated diseases, microbiome–nutrition–metabolic research, and implementation science.
• Launch a Digestive Health Research & Innovation Flagship (FP10): To coordinate cross-border research and accelerate the translation of findings into practical applications.
• Build EU Digestive Health Data Infrastructure: Aligned with the European Health Data Space (EHDS) regulation, including federated registries and real-world evidence platforms.
• Protect Public-Interest Research: Enable sustained collaboration through the protection of academic clinical trials.
• Invest in Prevention and Inequality Reduction: Integrate digestive health into EU resilience and competitiveness strategies.

Expert Perspectives

“Digestive health is a critical societal and economic priority, and not an isolated medical problem,” stated Joost PH Drenth, UEG President. “Its scale and ballooning costs warrant explicit prioritization in the next EU long-term budget. Targeted investment through FP10 and the post-2027 EU4Health program is pivotal to drive prevention, strengthen health system resilience, and translate research into real-world health outcomes.” Source: EQS News

Alexander Hann, Chair of UEG’s Public Affairs Group, added, “Decisions in 2026 will shape Europe’s health and research landscape for the next decade. Embedding digestive health in FP10 and the MFF 2028–2034 is a cost-effective investment—improving patient outcomes while strengthening EU competitiveness.” Source: PR Newswire

Looking Ahead

UEG’s call to action underscores the growing recognition of digestive health as a fundamental component of overall well-being and economic stability in Europe. The organization hopes that EU policymakers will heed their recommendations and prioritize investment in this critical area in the upcoming financial planning cycles. Source: FinanzWire