Investment in Health a priority in the Social Investment Package

The EuGMS has responded to the EU Commission's paper on Investing in Health, published as part of the Social Investment package. The Commission's is a clear indication of the fact that health is an integral part of the Europe 2020 strategy. The document recommends reforming health systems to ensure access to high quality healthcare as well a more effective use of scarce resources. The paper focuses on three main themes:

 

1Investing in sustainable health systems:

Health systems in Europe are at the core of its high level of social protection and they are a cornerstone of the European social market economy. Current constraints (the economic crisis, demographic ageing and changes in the types of diseases affecting the EU population) reinforce the necessity to reform those systems. Efficiency gains can be made by, for example, reducing unnecessary hospitalization and use of specialists, strengthening primary care, encouraging the use of less expensive equivalent (generic) drugs, and using health technology assessment to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of health technologies as a basis for decision making.

2Health as an investment in human capital:

Health can boost economic growth by enabling people to remain active longer and in better health. The health status of the population influences labour market participation and productivity. Public health policy should focus on disease prevention and health promotion in order to reduce the human and economic burdens of chronic diseases. 

3Investing to reduce inequalities in health:

Health outcomes vary considerably within and between Member States. Health inequalities represent a waste of human potential as well as a huge potential economic loss. Universal access to healthcare services can help reducing poverty and fighting social exclusion. An inter-sectoral action – ‘health in all policies’ – is required to address the social determinants of health.

For the document: http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1044&langId=en&moreDocuments=yes