Brussels, 20/03/2015 (Agence Europe) - The European Steering Group on Sustainable Health, which is chaired by former Health Minister of Ireland Mary Harney and supported by biopharmaceutical company AbbVie, published a “white paper” on Friday 20 March, setting out recommendations for European Union decision makers so that health systems can be more viable. The document, Acting together - Roadmap for Sustainable Healthcare, is informed by information gathered in 24 European Union countries and provides 18 recommendations. Health Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis attended the presentation in Brussels on Thursday 19 March.
The roadmap is only the start of the journey to sustainable health systems, Harney said. The status quo, she continued, is not an option if European citizens are to continue to enjoy high quality, accessible and affordable care. Transforming healthcare is something complex that cannot be done quickly or in isolation, she stated. Andriukaitis declared: “I am committed to working closely with member states to help them improve the efficiency and sustainability of their health systems, so that they can provide all citizens with equitable access to care”.
By 2050, around 37% of the EU population will be aged 60 or over. Chronic illnesses will be responsible for 86% of deaths and healthcare spending will be around €700 billion per year. Hence the absolute necessity for reform of healthcare systems to make them more able to meet these challenges. The Steering Group on Sustainable Health, set up in 2014, has been gathering information over the past year which it has brought together to provide an overview of the situation in Europe. “The data and evidence compiled show clearly that European healthcare systems are at a crossroads. I am convinced that sustainable healthcare systems can become a reality but this can only happen if we embrace collective, integrated and creative ways of thinking”, commented Professor Walter Ricciardi of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, and a member of the European Public Health Association (EPHA) (our translation).
In summary, the recommendations call for: 1) greater attention to be paid to prevention; 2) increased monitoring of the health situation and data collection; 3) new EU-wide data protection rules (for relevant use of patients' data); 4) greater involvement of healthcare professionals and employees; 5) the lack of health knowledge to be addressed; 6) use to be made of new technologies to support the development and transformation of healthcare.
The Steering Group on Sustainable Health hopes that political decision-makers, at both EU and national levels, will be inspired by the recommendations to take action. (Isabelle Lamberty)