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PRESS RELEASE The Riga Roadmap sets out an Action Plan for EU and National Policy Makers to Deliver Sustainable, Equitable and Participatory European Health Systems (31st August 2015 – Brussels): European health stakeholders are [...]
An action plan to bring patient-centred healthcare to life
23rd June 2015
The Universal Health Conference in Riga next week will build on the core principles of the Vilnius Declaration and scope out common ground where Member States can work together and support each other in the design and implementation of robust and resilient ‘all of life’ health and care services.
Consult and involve citizens to create more effective and sustainable healthcare services
23rd June 2015
Many would claim patients already are the centre of attention in our health systems. But for the most part, this is as passive recipients of care. It is time to end the lip service and support patients to be active partners in managing their own health and to start assessing quality of health services in terms of outcomes, not activity.
Interview with Zsuzsanna Jakab: Make healthcare systems serve the interests of the people
23rd June 2015
The Vilnius Declaration established a broad consensus around key areas for attention in reshaping Europe’s healthcare systems to face the future. This has spurred progress, but further effort is required in reorienting systems to focus on non-communicable diseases and the requirements of an elderly population, says Zsuzsanna Jakab, WHO Regional Director for Europe.
Interview with Christoph Stoller: How pharma can contribute to ensuring health systems are sustainable and inclusive
23rd June 2015
The pharma industry, with its close relationships to patients, clinicians and payers can play a pivotal role in promoting future efficiency of health systems, says Christoph Stoller, Senior Vice President Generics and Commercial Operations, Europe at Teva. The contribution will reach well beyond supplying medicines.
Interview with Gunta Anca: Put educated patients at the heart of people-centred health systems
23rd June 2015
As a leading disability rights campaigner and patient advocate, Gunta Anca is determined to make the slogan ‘Nothing about us, without us’ come to life. Key to this is to educate both patients and healthcare professionals, she says.
mHealth: the unseen potential in every patient’s pocket
23rd June 2015
How can we ensure efficient and equitable access to healthcare systems in difficult economic times? This key question dominates the debate over modern healthcare. Strained resources and an ageing population create increasing pressure on demand for innovative and costly products and services. And yet, the digital revolution today provides greater access to information than ever before. How can we help citizens square this circle? mHealth – apps and online services designed to enable people to take care of their own health – may be the answer.
Define access by the requirements of patients, not the availability of services
17th June 2015
Equitable access – in which all patients can get care as and when needed – should be a central attribute and key measure of performance for Europe’s health systems. But before this can be realised, accessibility must be defined.
Interview with Adrzej Rys: Pooling resources and sharing best practice to improve access to healthcare
17th June 2015
The EU is establishing platforms and channels for Member States to work together in achieving shared objectives that promote universal access. In this interview, Andrzej Rys Director, Health products and systems, DG Health and Food Safety, describes a number of these initiatives.
Interview with Adrian van den Hoven: Generics significantly improve access to medicines and promote sustainability of healthcare systems
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.
Interview with Gillian Leng: Health Technology Assessment is central to access and equity
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.
Delivering the promise of healthcare innovation without compromising sustainability
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.
Interview with Vilius Grabauskas: Rooting out inequality is the key to balancing the books
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.
Interview with Mark Pearson: Squaring the circle between costly innovation and limited healthcare budgets
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.
The Vilnius Declaration – How Have We Responded to Its ‘Call to Action’?
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.
Interview with Vytenis Andriukaitis: Health in all policies will address inequality and contribute to smart, sustainable growth
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
Interview with Guntis Belēvičs: Latvian Presidency of the European Union puts the focus on patient-centred 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.
The merging of biology with digital technology is personalising 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.
Interview with Pēteris Zilgalvis: Take Digital Health Services to the Citizens
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.
Interview with Richard Bergström: The merging of biology with digital technologies is personalising healthcare
27th May 2015
From gene sequencing in target discovery, to patient self-monitoring with mobile apps, digital platforms are transforming healthcare. EFPIA’s members are applying these tools to develop better, safer, targeted medicines. And by reducing uncertainty for payers this movement will improve access and affordability, says Richard Bergström.
Spend smarter to ensure high quality healthcare for all
20th May, 2015
Despite austerity-era cuts, Europe’s health systems command significant resources. Now, these must be deployed in a smarter, evidence-based way, to extract greater value, increase efficiency and bring an end to health inequalities that exist both within and between nations
Interview with Josep Figueras: Focus on health gain to draw the virtuous circle from efficiency to equity
20th May 2015
While increasing efficiency can help reduce inequalities, it is not necessarily so. Meanwhile the reverse case – that addressing inequalities makes for more efficient health systems – may not even be considered. The key to untangling this nexus is to focus investment and reform on health gains, says Josep Figueras, Director of the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies
Interview with Stanimir Hasurdjiev: Remove barriers to access to improve patient outcomes and promote efficiency and sustainability
20th May 2015
Focussing on outcomes is the foundation stone for efficient, equitable and sustainable health systems. And the key to improving outcomes lies in dismantling barriers to access, says Stanimir Hasurdjiev
