29 September 2023

MMD group is delighted to welcome a new member on board, Stelios Kympouropoulos (EPP, Greece). MEP Kympouropoulos is advocating for a wide range of health issues, ranging from improving prevention and control of non-communicable diseases to the rights of people living disabilities and mental health conditions as well as the digital transformation of healthcare for better care delivery for all people. MEP Kympouropoulos’ awareness-raising efforts were recognised in 2023, when he won the Parliament MEP Awards in the category for Health and Well-Being.

MEP Kympouropoulos is a member of the EMPL, Peti and SANT committees, and is a substitute in the ENVI committee. As a shadow rapporteur for the INI on Mental Health, MEP Kympouropoulos advocated for the acknowledgement of the link between NCDs and mental health disorders, which represents a critical unmet need at present. Indeed, multiple studies highlight the high prevalence of co-morbidity between NCDs such as diabetes, and mental health, as well as the poorer diabetes and mental health outcomes for people when this co-morbidity exists. For example, adults living with depression have a 37% higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. At the same time, people living with diabetes (PwD) who also live with mental health conditions also find it harder to manage their physical condition compared to those without mental illness, as optimal diabetes management requires stringent self-monitoring and lifestyle modifications. Poorly controlled diabetes because of mental health conditions can lead to the development of complications and early death in people with chronic mental illness. Yet the rate of depression is two to three times higher in PwD than in the general population.

IDF Europe looks forward to working together with MEP Stelios Kympouropoulos to raise awareness of diabetes in the EU institutions and foster ambitious policy action to improve the quality of life and health outcomes of people living with diabetes and other chronic conditions.