The seventh EHFG was hosted by the village of Bad Gastein from 6th to 9th October 2004 and took place under the general theme "Global Challenges for Health. European Approaches and Responsibilities". For the first time the mark of 500 participants was reached and 523 delegates representing science, politics and administration, business and patient organsitions found their way to Gastein in order to discuss how global developments in health im pact the situation in Europe.
Topics relating to values, principles and objectives of health policy in Europe were at the centre of the EHFG 2004. Further, issues that pose major challenges to health systems but are sometimes neglected, such as mental health, health at the workplace, women's health, were part of the programme. The debates that took place during the Health Forum also focused on permanently "hot" health policy topics such as the pharmaceuticals market in an enlarged Europe, the financing of health systems, and the basic question of "What defines health?"
