Luxembourg, 20/06/2014 (Agence Europe) - In Luxembourg on Friday 20 June, the Health Council adopted conclusions on the economic crisis and health care. These conclusions follow on from the informal meeting of the health ministers in Athens on 28 and 29 April, where they assessed the possible scenarios to reform health care systems, effectively and at the lowest possible cost.
The conclusions briefly review the consequences of the crisis on the healthcare systems and propose solutions to make these more resilient. Then text notes with concern that, since 2009, public health expenditure has been cut in many member states and that, although most countries offer universal cover, this is not automatically guaranteed in practice and many Europeans, most of them already in uncertain circumstances, are having problems in accessing care. The Council lists a number of areas in which action is needed. The aim is to reflect on innovative ways of integrating primary and hospital care and promoting the implementation of innovation in the field of new technologies and online health solutions. (IL)