Plenary 1

Health systems in crisis

Organised by the European Health Forum Gastein

"Underprepared, understaffed and suffering from underinvestment” – a damning indictment of the state of our health systems in 2023 from the OECD. This plenary will reflect on this analysis, and why the case for building more resilient health systems has never been more urgent. We will hear from those who know health systems best – members of the health and care workforce – about the challenges being experienced on the frontlines of care, as well as consider other factors pressuring health systems including funding, demographic changes, organisational structures and ways of working, against the backdrop of growing challenges such as the impact of the climate emergency on health systems and the drive to achieve net-zero healthcare. Senior representatives from the European Commission, World Health Organization and Member States will reflect on the policy solutions needed to address these challenges.