DRAFT OF THE PROJECT
HEALTH FORUM OF SOUTH EASTERN EUROPE
INTRODUCTION
The global economic crisis is posing serious challenges to health policies and health systems all over the world. The challenges we have been faced with call for re-examination of performance, sustainability and remodeling of the health systems. Innovative solutions and new approaches to meeting the health sector needs, as response to the challenges, require more intensive exchange of experiences and information and more intensive global and regional cooperation. Furthermore, the process of implementation of the New European Health Policy - Health 2020 by WHO member countries of the European Region requires joint efforts and opening of the functional communication channels.
CURRENT SITUATION AND EXPERIENCE
SEE countries which, being part of the European continent, share geographic, demographic, economic and political specificities are faced with similar challenges in terms of preservation and improvement of health. Experiences of transition, European integrations, health system restructuring and especially similar problems with demographic trends and chronic non-communicable diseases pose a necessity to more efficient integrated approach.
Good experiences within the institutional forms of the regional cooperation over the past two decades (former SEE Stability Pact, Regional Cooperation Council and South East European Health Network) prove to be an insufficient framework for more flexible and comprehensive communication in the years of the crisis. Incoherent present analyses and particular approaches of the interested institutions (Government, WHO, OECD, WB, etc.) prevent reaching efficient and comprehensive solutions. An additional weakness of the existing institutional capacities is absence of experts from academic and professional institutions, representatives of the associations of patients and representatives of pharmaceutical industry. Clear need for new approaches and information in the field of public health, health economics and management has been proved by large interest of South-East European countries for non-institutional for a such as European Health Forum in Gastein and Innovative Initiative in Rovinj (2012). However, analysis and comprehensive approach to health and health systems of South-East European countries were not adequately covered at these meetings.
The crisis made us aware that there are no universal and unique recipes and approaches. On the contrary, what we need is specific, adjusted solutions. Health systems of the countries in SEE with their similar performance, as well as similar health needs and challenges call for an advanced model of communications.
PROJECT OBJECTIVES
Outcomes of the organization of the annual forum of relevant decision-makers in the health systems of SEE countries and with the participation of scientific and professional experts from the EU and the Region will analyze:
Results of transformation of health systems in SEE countries
Indicators of the present health condition of the population in SEE countries
Impact of the financial crisis on the population in SEE countries
Impact of the financial crisis on the allocation of contributions for health and health policies in SEE countries
Patients’ rights in SEE countries
Health care in SEE countries
Situation in pharmaceutical industry and pharmaceutical markets in SEE countries
Present projections of public health challenges, risks and threats in SEE countries
Make comparative analysis of the action plans for the implementation of the New European Health Policy – Health 2020
Discuss perspectives of the global, regional and national health management
Discuss innovative approaches to the health sector financing
Discuss innovative approaches to the public health
Discuss inequalities in the health sector and ethical problems in health care
Methods of work:
• Plenary conference debate
• parallel fora
• round tables
• new communication platforms (on-line link, Twitter, Facebook…)
All communication forms include maximum three introductory presentations, participation of the moderator and summary. The official language of the Forum is English with simultaneous interpretation in to Serbian provided.
Program Committee shall appoint working presidencies and chair persons for plenaries, fora andround tables.
The participation fee and deadlines for submitting applications for participation shall be defined
by the Committee.
The Forum is scheduled for April 2017 as a two-day event on the location which has appropriate capacities to meet the needs of the Forum (conference halls, technical support for interpretation, etc.)
The Forum includes the following organizational parts:
1. Introductory plenary session: “Health and Health Systems of SEE countries twenty years later”
2. Final plenary session: “Health in SEE in the years of crisis – innovations, challenges”
The plenary session (1) includes the introduction of the chair person and a 15-minute presentation of a representative from each SEE country, then two presentations of international experts in the form of a comparative analysis. The final session is envisaged as a debate. The total duration of the plenary is 3x45 min. During the plenary, no other activities are carried out and all participants are supposed to attend the plenary session.
Plenary session (2) includes the presentation of a high-ranking representative of the World Health Organization and three thematic presentations delivered by experts with the final debate and conclusions.
1. Forum 1 – “Global, Regional and National Health Management’’
2. Forum 2 – “Situation and Sustainability of the Health Systems in SEE’’
3. Forum 3 – “Financing of Health Care in the Years of Crisis’’
4. Forum 4 – “Pharmaceutical Market and Industry in SEE’’
5. Forum 5 – “Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases and Public Health Policies’’
6. Forum 6 – “Patients’ Rights in SEE Countries’’
7. Forum 7 – “SEE and the New European Health Policy - Health 2020’’
8. Forum 8 – “Health Care Quality in SEE Countries and Quality of Health Measurement’’
The fora are organized in the form of sessions with specific topic. The fora shall be chaired by various authorities from SEE countries and include three lectures on the given topic and debate at the end. Lecturers shall be invited upon prior verification of the lecture by the Forum Program. The duration of the Forum is 2x45 min.
1. Round table “Vaccination and Confidence in the Health System’’
2. Round table “Development Trends of the Health Insurance in SEE’’
3. Round table “Public-Private Partnership in the Health Sector – Dilemmas and Experiences’’
4. Round table “Fiscal Policies in the Function of Health. Health Sector in the Function of Economic Growth’’
5. Round table “Corruption in Health’’
6. Round table “Health and Media’’
