2^nd International Health Summit

European Health Care Systems: Need for Substantial Change

Health Reform.cz

The association Reforma zdravotnictví – forum.cz /Health Reform.cz/ held from 30 October to 1 November 2005 in Prague an international health care conference – 2nd edition of the International Health Summit.

Representatives of health care insurers, patients' organisations, medical doctors and economists from 18 countries of the world agreed on the need for major changes in the functioning of European health care systems.

The Conference, held under the aegis of the US Ambassador in the Czech Republic William Cabanniss and the Prague Mayor Pavel Bém, has set up a platform for the discussion of high level experts in the field of health care reform. Regardless of the fact that the Conference participants represented diverse health care systems, they reached a consensus during the three days debate that rather than evaluate the current situation of the health care systems in Western Europe, it is important to follow the trends and to get ready for expected developments. All European health care systems will have to come to terms with the population aging, the onset of new medical procedures and with increasing expectations of the population.

Apart from the analysis of the health care systems of the participating countries, the summit delegates dealt with other key themes related to the expected changes in health care systems of the participating countries. The stress was laid namely on integrated communication systems to ensure maximum information level of the patients. According to the IHS Conference conclusion, the timely and intense communication is a decisive instrument to minimise patients' concerns caused by the forthcoming necessary changes.

Opening address
Tomáš Julínek, senator, Parliament of the Czech Republic

REASONS FOR CHANGE

Principal Overview of EU Health Care Systems and their Problems
Hermann von Gersdorff, The World Bank, USA

Panel: Situation in Particular EU Countries
Germany: Ralf Mattias Heyder, DKG, The Germany Hospital Federation
UK: Dave Evans, Durrow
Holland: Elin Van der Broek, Edmund Burke Stiftung
Switzerland: Robert Springinsfeld, SWICA
Czech Republic: Lucie Antošová, Institute of Economic Analysis, Charles University

Challenges and Concerns Related to the Change:
Work groups according to their role:
Payers, Providers, Patient organizations, Regulators, Professions

Reports from Work Groups Facilitators

REFORMS AND PROPOSAL FOR CHANGE

Principal Categories and Criteria for the Change
Tomáš Macháček, KlientPRO, Czech Republic

Panel:
Germany: Ralf Mattias Heyder, DKG, The Germany Hospital Federation
UK: Dave Evans, Durrow
Holland: Elin Van der Broek, Edmund Burke Stiftung
Switzerland: Robert Springinsfeld, SWICA
Czech Republic: Tomáš Julínek, HealthReform.cz

Summary: Comparison of Proposals
Pavel Hroboň, Health Reform.cz, Czech Republic

CHALLENGES OF THE MARKET ORIENTED HEALTH REFORMS

Risk issues: Risk Pooling, Risk Selection, Risk Shifting, Risk Contracting
3 parallel sessions from the point of view of:
Payer: Sanford Barth, Aetna Inc., USA
Provider: Pavel Hroboň, Health Reform.cz, Czech Republic
Regulator: Patricia Lynch, Kaiser Permanente, USA

Consumerism Issues: Market Choice and Orientation, Market Segmentation,Consumerism Issues: Market Choice and Orientation, Market Segmentation,Advertisement
3 parallel sessions from the point of view of:
Payer: Robert Springinsfeld, SWICA, Switzerland
Provider: Marek Potysz, Podlesi Hospital, Czech Republic
Regulator: Patricia Lynch, Kaiser Permanente, USA

INFORMATION SUPPORT ISSUES: TOOLS, INFRASTRUCTURE

Information therapy
Donald Kemper, Healthwise, USA

Disease management
Matt Kelliher, Healthways International, USA

Integrated Information Systems
Steve Cole, Kaiser Permanente, USA

Discussion Results, Remarks, Insights
James Rice, International Health Summit, USA
Pavel Hroboň, Health Reform.cz, Czech Republic
Tomáš Macháček, KLIENT PRO, Czech Republic

Change: Strategy and Management
James Rice, International Health Summit, USA