Brussels, 22/09/2011 (Agence Europe) - On 21 September, representatives from the medical world and other stakeholders involved in the dialogue on access to health care, best practice on adherence to therapies and the provision of health care took part in a debate at the European Parliament in Brussels. This debate was chaired by MEPs Linda McAvan (S&D, United Kingdom), Christofer Fjellner (EPP, Sweden) and Cristian Silviu Busoi (ALDE, Romania). The objective of the debate was to look at ways in which the European Union can implement adherence to therapies and health care in a concrete way at a European level.
In the EU alone 194,500 deaths each year are due to wrong dosage of and non-adherence to prescribed medication. McAvan emphasised that “poor adherence carries a huge cost, both in terms of patient safety and quality of life. It also presents a serious problem for health systems, both in terms of inferior health outcomes, unnecessary treatments and hospitalisations”. The World Health Organisation has stressed that “increasing the effectiveness of adherence interventions may have a far greater impact on the health of the population than any improvement in specific medical treatments” added Fjellner. Finally, in his closing speech, Bus¸oi recognised that there is still a lack of coordination between health professionals, patients and the industry.
A coordinated approach and the exchange of good practice at European level are, according to participants, the solution that should be promoted in order to improve patient safety and quality health care, in addition to implementation of the most appropriate therapies. In conclusion, they advocate prioritising adherence and concordance in the future EU Health Programme, in the Steering Group of the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing and the Research Framework Programmes, as well as setting up information and awareness campaigns targeted to patients and the public, as part of an EU strategy for health literacy and information to patients. (IL/transl.fl)