Commission plans Chronic Disease Summit

A conference entitled ‘Addressing the medical, social and economic burden of chronic diseases in the EU will take place on 3 and 4 April. 

This first EU summit on chronic diseases brings together key policymakers, stakeholders and interest groups to explore ways to address chronic diseases effectively in the EU and to develop recommendations along the following questions: 

• How does the expanding burden of chronic diseases affect the quality of life of citizens, the competitiveness of economies and the cohesion of societies and what can the EU do about it? 
• How can the pressure of the expanding burden of chronic diseases on health systems be reduced and how can available resources be invested in the most efficient way? 
• Which prevention measures are the most cost-effective in the short and in the long term, and how could they be implemented? How should the EU and its Member States promote their implementation? Which risk factors need to be addresses more efficiently? 
• How do the health and care systems need to change to respond to the ageing challenge and growing phenomena of frailty and multi-morbidity? 
• How to best reach, include and empower the most vulnerable and marginalised people successfully in prevention and care strategies? 
• How could the European Union support Member States’ attempts towards containing the chronic disease burden? Which EU action would provide most added value – in economic, social and political terms? 

The summit will develop Conference conclusions and a set of policy recommendations for action clarifying on how the medical, social and economic burden of chronic diseases should be tackled in the European Union now and in the years to come. 

A series of workshops will explore in detail where specific action in relevant areas would help to respond to the burden of chronic diseases through EU added value. 

More specifically, experts should explore the status of EU, national and regional policies and activities and the interaction of authorities, patient organisations, the medical and social sector, industry and international organisations and their potential in better addressing specific major chronic diseases. The discussions will focus on prevention and health promotion, disease management and health investments and ways to act through infrastructural, organisational and instrumental means. Discussions should identify shortcomings and chances to address major chronic diseases more effectively in the future. 

For more information:

http://ec.europa.eu/health/major_chronic_diseases/events/ev_20140403_en.htm