Healthcare systems across the OECD countries are being challenged by ageing populations, increasing costs and limited funds. In spite of the resulting squeeze on healthcare budgets, not all interventions are fit for purpose, representing a significant waste of resources. Whilst healthcare systems are slowly moving away from their traditional focus on facilities such as hospitals to strengthen capabilities in areas such as prevention and data use, so far, however, few countries have created strategies to actively disinvest in treatments that no longer work, and there has been little research on how to identify which health interventions are of minor or no health benefit.
In 2018, Friends of Europe launched a working group series on health (dis)investment, gathering various key stakeholders from the healthcare sector and beyond, to discuss how a systematic approach to spending in health can earmark both funds for innovation and release resources for practices that don’t deliver better health results.
This roundtable lunch debate will launch the report of the health (dis)investment series, presenting the outcomes of these discussions which brings together the views of a large network of health professionals, policymakers, scholars and business representatives on health investments. Key recommendations will be presented and discussed amongst participants, ahead of the new European Commission and Parliament to be elected in 2019.
Related content:
- Event page of first working group: Smart Investment For Better Outcomes
- Event page of second working group: How To Spend It? Smart disinvestment choices in health
This event is by invitation only. For more information, please contact Sarah Bentz.
Sarah Bentz
Tel.: +32 2 893 98 23
Email: sarah.bentz@friendsofeurope.org
