17th June 2015

There is a win:win in promoting the use of generics and biosimilars, with improved patient access going hand-in-hand with increased sustainability of healthcare systems. Their uptake is ensuring wider access to the best standard of care for patients across Europe, says Adrian van den Hoven, Director General of the European Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association.

17th June 2015

There may be a perception that health technology assessment is solely concerned with rationing the use of innovative drugs, but in fact, the opposite is the case, says Professor Gillian Leng, Deputy Chief Executive of the UK National Institute of Health and Care Excellence. Rather, the aim is to actively promote uptake of treatments that are good value for money.

9th June 2015

Innovation has become synonymous with higher cost, but it need not be like that. For a start, innovation has many guises: it can come in the shape of a breakthrough therapy that revolutionises treatment, an innovative way of administering a generic that improves adherence, a biosimilar that promotes innovative pricing models, or through insights from big data that drive improvements in patient care without adding to cost.

9th June 2015

Rising demand might be seen as a threat to sustainability, but the two can be reconciled through universal coverage. This will reduce inequalities whilst increasing the efficiency of health care systems. Recent reforms in Lithuania demonstrate this, says Professor Vilius Grabauskas.

9th June 2015

Medical innovation that is delivering hope for patients is causing anxiety for payers. Restructuring health systems with the patients at the centre is the route to delivering better care and saving costs, says Mark Pearson of OECD.

3rd June 2015

Austerity-era cuts have undermined Europe’s health systems. The Vilnius Declaration, set down during the Lithuanian Presidency of the EU, was a call to end this attrition. Now the Latvian Presidency of the EU will take the agenda forward at a conference in Riga on 29 – 30 June, with the aim of identifying ways in which citizens can be active partners in efforts to make health systems more efficient, sustainable and equitable – and improve health for all.

3rd June 2015

As he looks forward to the Riga Health Conference, Vytenis Andriukaitis, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, outlines in this interview how the European Commission will support member states in their efforts to ensure universal access to healthcare

3rd June 2015

The future sustainability and equity of Europe’s healthcare systems depends on placing the needs of patients first. From this perspective, it becomes possible to improve coordination and quality at every level of care, strengthening services and increasing the healthy life span of all, says Guntis Belēvičs, Latvia’s Minister for Health.

27th May 2015

Digital platforms are underpinning the move to patient-centred care. Across the spectrum, from drug discovery to diagnosis and treatment, staffing and skills development, to facilities management, the key to better health systems lies in the improved collection, analysis and deployment of data of all kinds.

27th May 2015

mHealth is a bottom-up movement, but questions of quality assurance and organisational barriers, stand in the way of citizens being properly empowered in its use. This is restraining potential the technology holds to increase affordability and accessibility of health care, says Pēteris Zilgalvis, Head of Unit, eHealth and Wellbeing, DG Connect.