Brussels, 06/06/2011 (Agence Europe) - Against a backdrop of new challenges to be faced by European health systems, EU health ministers, on Monday 6 June, adopted conclusions entitled, “Towards modern, responsive and sustainable health systems” and debated the issue. “The challenges are common to all. It is important that member states continue to cooperate and improve cooperation”, said Hungarian Minister of National Resources Miklós Réthelyi. This view was shared by all the delegations in the discussions which followed the adoption of the text. Ministers present gave examples of the initiatives and measures they are proposing. Several lines of action were suggested to curb expenditure, such as wider use of generic medicines, wider use of new technologies, negotiating the purchase of larger amounts of medicines to make economies of scale, regulating medical prescriptions, and more. The conclusions call on member states and the Commission to initiate a reflection process to identify effective ways of investing in health, so as to pursue modern, responsive and sustainable health systems. The Commission is invited to support the reflection process, and to stress the major economic role of the health sector, aiming to shift health from being regarded as just an expenditure post to being an acknowledged contributor of economic growth. The Commission should also provide member states with effective tools and methodologies for the assessment of the performance of health systems. It is also called on to present regular reports to the Council to contribute to the reflection process, the first report being submitted by the end of 2012. (I.L./transl.rt)