Transcript Document

Challenges for an EU
Health Strategy
Bernard Merkel
Head of the Health Strategy Unit
Gastein, 4 October 2006
Workshop on Health Strategy
Today’s presentation:
1. Why an EU Health Strategy now?
2. Challenges for an EU Health Strategy
3. (Possible) Key themes
4. The way ahead
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1. Why an EU Health Strategy (1)
Because some issues need EU action
global issues (e.g. threats, trade)
cross-border issues (e.g. patient mobility)
horizontal issues (e.g. ageing, technology,
innovation, obesity, citizens’ agenda)
Because EU and MS together can improve
health in Europe
set what can be done at EU level
(co-ordination, global issues, synergies)
see what can best be done at national/local
level (MS policies, objectives, milestones) 3
1. Why an EU Health Strategy
now? (2)
What we have done so far
Policy Communications 2000, 2005
Consultation 2004
What is missing
Overall objectives and milestones
A strategic and integrated framework
(all policies)
Action on key themes
Real change
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2. Challenges for an EU Health
Strategy (1)
Set out aims, objectives (priorities) and
milestones
to guide health policy for years to come
building on current objectives
(promote health and protect citizens)
Provide strategic overall framework
cross-policy approach to health
health mainstreaming and synergies
EU and Member States’ co-operation
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2. Challenges for an EU Health
Strategy (2)
Shape policy agenda on key concerns
e.g. inequalities, global health, health
systems
Trigger change - deliver concrete results at all
levels!
Set up implementation means
Voluntary “targets” EU and MS
Regular monitoring/reporting on progress
Update policy approach regularly
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3. (Possible) Key themes
Bridging (the growing) Health
inequalities
Challenge: Health and economic gap
Life expectancy (men) ranges from 65 to
78 years
Investment in health ranges from 3.3 to
over 11% of GDP
Need: solidarity and co-ordination
within and between MS
Problem known: what can EU & MS do?
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3. (Possible) Key themes
Responding to global health issues
Challenge: inter-action EU and global
level
communicable diseases
pandemics
trade
health and development aid
Need: improve health outside EU
borders, solidarity, input in
international health agenda
Problem known: what can EU & MS do?
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4. The way ahead
Gathering stakeholders’ views
Impact assessment
Adoption of Strategy in June 2007
Implement strategy and regular
monitoring of results
Creation of implementation mechanism??
Which implementation method /
instruments??
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