This is the time when the European Commission releases its “summer package”. Some concerns about health arise, either because of the need to solve citizens’ problems or because of worries about public finances.
The general recommendations are good and cautionary, such as arguing that “faced with increasing health and long-term care demand, Member States also need to build resilient health and long-term care systems, including by shifting towards a preventive and primary healthcare model”. The level of concern is also noted in some of the country reports, such as the recommendations for Austria: “Take decisive action to safeguard the sustainability of public finances, including by improving the fiscal sustainability of the healthcare, long-term care and pension systems, by, among other things, streamlining underused hospital infrastructure, improving the cost-effectiveness of healthcare and long-term care…”
What seems to be missing is the realisation that health systems have many players and that it’s not enough to make policy guidelines as if all services were public.
All the studies indicate that the private health sector has investment capacity, promotes efficiency, has flexibility and the ability to act. And it is ready to increase its contribution to health systems, as soon as the conditions allow and there is political will.
The health challenges are enormous (as citizens remind politicians every day and as studies confirm) and only strategies that take all resources into account can be effective.
Discussing the sustainability of health systems also involves respecting the principle of accountability: being accountable and justifying the efficiency of public funds. In many other EU and OECD countries, we need to discuss the level of health productivity (which, as we well know, is not measured by the number of appointments or surgeries) and have the appropriate mechanisms to stimulate efficiency.
This exercise should put private providers in the middle of the implementation for the sustainability of health systems.
In terms of our associative life, I’d like to point out that the fourth edition of the European Private Hospital Awards (EPHA) is underway. UEHP and the Alianza de la Sanidad Privada Española (ASPE), in partnership with EY, are preparing everything to celebrate the best-performing healthcare establishments in various categories, but now is the time to submit applications. Let’s get to it.
I’d like to give you the example of Ukraine, which I should have mentioned in a previous article. A country that is fighting invaders and, in many areas, trying to maintain normality for the sake of its citizens. I’d like to tell you how our colleagues from Ukraine have been taking part in activities and were even among the first to submit applications to the EPHA. What a fine example they set for us. Thank you for all your efforts and I hope that we can hold a meeting in Kiev as soon as possible.
Read the full July newsletter HERE
