A number of the key elements to realize a real European Well being Union took the stage on this 12 months’s European Well being Discussion board Gastein
Josep Figueras, Director of the European Observatory on Well being Methods and Insurance policies, on the European Well being Discussion board Gastein 2022. Credit score: EHFG
Tons of of policy-makers, well being consultants, neighborhood members and teachers convened on the European Well being Discussion board Gastein (EHFG), in Austria, to debate potential moonshots for a real European Well being Union. The EHFG 25th anniversary coincided with the tenth anniversary of a collaboration between Eurohealth and the Discussion board, in late September 2022.
“If not now, when?” was the pressing name to motion on the first version of the convention in three years, at a time when Europe and Central Asia live by means of a permacrisis that stretches past the pandemic, local weather change and battle.
The European Observatory on Well being Methods and Insurance policies led, co-led or participated in a number of periods protecting the essential function that well being staff play in well being programs; alternatives for innovation; challenges in well being programs financing; and a shift
in the direction of the economic system of wellbeing. Under you’ll find key take-aways and associated sources.
Scaling up, upskilling, and defending the well being workforce
- A current report by the WHO Regional Workplace for Europe, ‘Time to Act’, produced in collaboration with the Observatory, describes how the well being and care workforce in all international locations of the European Area at present faces extreme challenges,
particularly associated to age and psychological well being. - The density of nurses and medical doctors in Western Europe is considerably greater than in different elements of the area.
- Change begins with merely acknowledging well being staff’ challenges.
- Well being coverage ought to put extra effort in serving to hospitals and first well being care organizations help their workforce.
- Transferring ahead, well being staff want a greater work-life steadiness, enough remuneration, coaching and analysis alternatives, and a constructive tradition at work.
- “The pandemic has proven the strengths and fragilities of the well being and care workforce. The restoration of well being programs and future preparedness will fail until we correctly spend money on well being and care staff,” mentioned Natasha Azzopardi-Muscat,
Director of Nation Well being Insurance policies & Methods at WHO/Europe. - Associated sources:
Lengthy COVID
- One of many first challenges round lengthy COVID was the very long time it took to acknowledge it as such, and even the tendency to disclaim it exists.
- Associated sources:
Pharma methods and entry to novel medicines
- Remodeling greatest practices by means of a sensible use of knowledge and digital applied sciences can promote progressive options that meet each sufferers’ and suppliers’ wants.
- “A moonshot in the direction of sustained entry to medicines for all requires each progressive (rocket) science and a strong, collaborative, platform to launch from,” mentioned Dimitra Panteli, Programme Supervisor on the European Observatory on Well being Methods
and Insurance policies. - Associated sources:
The monetary problem of growing progressive well being programs
- Tax reforms and the tip of tax havens are progressive actions that may enhance tax programs.
- “Cash isn’t the issue; the issue is that we’re not spending it proper and we should not have folks with the capability to spend that cash adequately,” mentioned Vesna Kerstin Petrič, Director-Normal of the Directorate for Public Well being at
the Ministry of Health of Slovenia. - Evidence is already in place for health finance innovation; it now requires political will and power to implement it.
- “We need innovative approaches to sustainable funding for our health systems to ensure they can be resilient and innovative themselves,” said Dimitra Panteli, Programme Manager at the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies.
- Related resources:
Economy of Wellbeing: from concept to practice
- The economy of wellbeing is an investment rather than a cost; it’s about measuring prosperity in how people feel rather than in GDP.
- Civil society organisations should be involved in developing wellbeing policies.
- Common challenges in the economy of wellbeing include the lack of interactions between policy-makers from sectors such as economy, wellbeing and environment.
- Finland showed that by focusing on the links between wellbeing and the economy we can achieve more equal health systems.
- Related resources:
Everything you always wanted to know about European Union health policy but were afraid to ask
- Authors of the third edition of the book presented an overview of this up-to-date review and analysis of European Union public health policies.
- The book begins by explaining the basic politics of European integration and European policy-making in health, including the basic question of how the European Union (EU) came to have a health policy and what that policy does. Thereafter, it moves
on to the three faces of European Union health policy.
- Some of the dreams in this book have come true; others are still in the making, such as the European Health Union, the European Data Space, pharma strategy, public health protection, and the fight against tobacco.
- Related resources:
Onwards, together: a moonshot for a true European Health Union
- “The past 25 years have demonstrated that honest and evidence-based discussions in the Forum can turn into impactful health policy. The EHFG has proven central to the creation of a true European Health Union,” said Josep Figueras, Director
of the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies - “By bringing together so many players in health and other policy areas, the EFHG can set the agenda for extending and completing the EU Health Union,” emphasized Clemens Martion Auer, President of the European Health Forum Gastein.
- Working in silos prevents knowledge sharing. Partnerships require courage, risk, and trust; and trust is not built in a day.
- “The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) knows that no country can cope with a crisis alone. We’ll stay in dialogue, listen to the needs and tailor our support,” said Andrea Ammon, ECDC Director.
You can follow the full coverage of Observatory sessions at the EHFG on Twitter at #OBSatEHFG.
