F6 FORUM
Organised by the International Forum Gastein. Sponsored by an unrestricted educational grant from MSD
Improving health system performance is on the political agenda in all countries. Member States are striving to build high performing health systems. But what is the EU’s contribution to health systems’ performance given that EU actions in many areas affect the health of Europe’s population and the performance of health systems? Our Forum convenes EHFG participants to discuss several of the building blocks of high performing health systems, such as measuring performance, the tools necessary to assess better outcomes and efficiency gains, the challenges of a functioning pharmaceutical market, the development of a health workforce, the evolving role of the European patient and finally the financing mechanisms that can sustain high performing health systems.
Opening keynote
Vytenis Andriukaitis, Commissioner-designate for Health and Food Safety
EU health policy: More than meets the eye
Scott L Greer, University of Michigan, USA
Summarizing day one and resuming the discussion
Matthias Wismar, European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies
Health professionals are mobile, crossing country boundaries for job opportunities. This freedom is guaranteed by the EU Treaties and the Directive on the recognition of diploma ensures a high portability of their qualifications. Is the current form of mobility helping covering shortages? Are health professions going where they are most needed? At the same time, countries are building coordinated and integrated health care delivery models trying to improve the performance of health systems. The EU has set up a skills council and launched various initiatives to ensure that the health professions of the future have the necessary skills to assist the European patient with a more efficient clinical pathway and a better coordination and efficient use of different health and care services. What skills do we need to achieve integrated care? Who is teaching these skills?
Speakers
Michel Van Hoegaerden, Joint Action on Workforce Forecasting and Planning
James Buchan, Professor, Queen Margaret University, UK
European citizens enjoy the free movement of services and with it cross-border patient mobility, with implications for accessibility, waiting lists and health budgets. The European Directive on patients’ rights in cross-border care has further contributed to the potential mobility of patients. What is the concept or image of the European patient emerging from all these regulations? How can we make it work despite national barriers? Will we have to use Esperanto to access health services across Europe.
Speakers
Elisabeth Fiedler, Patient group representative from ÖMCCV
Stanimir Hasurdjiev, MD, Chair, National Patients Organisation of Bulgaria
The EU’s capabilities to monitor, comment and sanction economic and budgetary undesirable behaviour has increased over recent years considerably, in particular with the updated Stability of Growth Pact (2011 and 2013) and the introduction of the European Semester in 2011. Despite calls to ring fencing health budgets, this new financial governance model has consequences for health financing which comes primarily from public budget. As a result, recommendations are being made for reforming health systems. Does this also capture investment in health? Is it performance related? Who sets the goals? Or is it just an austerity policy?
Speakers
Nathalie Chaze, Head of Healthcare Systems Unit, DG Health and Consumers, European Commission
Scott L Greer, University of Michigan, USA
Facilitation
Boris Azaïs, Director Public Policy Europe and Canada, MSD;
Willy Palm, European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies;
Matthias Wismar, European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies