PRESS RELEASE
A Call for Action - The Vilnius Declaration
Sustainable Health Systems for Inclusive Growth in Europe. Lithuanian Presidency conference issues urgent call for action for immediate moves to protect Europe’s healthcare systems
Vilnius (Lithuania) 21 November 2013 – Austerity cuts have put Europe’s healthcare systems under severe pressure, increasing health inequalities and threatening sustainability in the future... Nov 2013
ABOUT THE CONFERENCE
The main aim of the annual Conference, which will be held under the auspices of the Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, is to identify the existing best evidence on fostering the development of sustainable health systems throughout the entire Europe. This way the Conference will contribute to the reflection process on modern, responsive and sustainable health systems, which is the main non-legislative initiative of the Ministry of Health for the Presidency.
The Conference is organized together with the European organizations: the European Public Health Alliance, the European Patient Forum and the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations. About 400 participants are expected to attend the Conference, including speakers and guests from the European Commission, World Health Organization, European Union Member States, Candidate States and Eastern Partnership States, coming from various governmental and non-governmental organizations.
The Conference will feature five thematic blocks:
NOVEMBER 19, 2013
Sustainable health systems: visions and strategies
The Conference will feature four thematic blocks. The opening plenary Sustainable health systems: visions and strategies will focus on the ways to ensure the sustainability of health systems. This session will highlight equitable access to high quality health care services in circumstances of scarce economic and other resources as a key question, which is crucial for the future economic and social landscape of Europe. This session will also address universality, equity and solidarity as core values of health systems and will stress the importance of evidence-based policy-making.
Sustainable economic growth through better health
Sustainable economic growth through better health will highlight the major economic role of the health sector, aiming to shift health from being regarded as just an expenditure to being an acknowledged contributor of sustainable economic growth. The session will bring the practical options for finance reform in health care to adequately respond to society's growing and changing health needs particularly due to ageing population, rapid technology diffusion and growing costs of health care. It will also stimulate the debate on empowering the individuals to change and sustain healthy behaviour.
NOVEMBER 20, 2013
Taking stock: health and health care inequalities in Europe
Taking stock: health and health care inequalities in Europe will address the unequal health of Europeans and its main determinants: socio–economic factors, unhealthy lifestyle, physical and working environment. It will emphasize the urgency for Governments and regional authorities to play a leading role in developing effective, health policy-driven approaches to adequately address macroeconomic challenges and health and societal challenges. Session will also highlight the negative impact of austerity measures on population health and access to high quality health care services.
Improving health-system productivity: scope for reform
Improving health-system productivity: scope for reform will emphasize importance of wise use of the financial contributions of taxpayers, insurers, employers, patients, and other payers and will search for the ways to improve it. Session will stimulate the discussions on addressing inequalities through health systems and will highlight the importance of innovation for growth.
Sustainable health systems for the future
The closing plenary Sustainable health systems for the future will be aimed at adding value to the results of the conference with the feedback from the main stakeholders and the major events: European Public Health Alliance Conference, European Health Forum Gastein, and WHO Ministerial Conference in Tallinn, which all will be very relevant to the Presidency conference. The Conference will be closed by the Minister of Health of the Republic of Lithuania Mr. Vytenis Povilas Andriukaitis.
