INTEGRATION COOPERATION AND PERFORMANCE OF HEALTH SYSTEMS

EUROPEAN COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS' OPINION

INTEGRATION COOPERATION AND PERFORMANCE OF HEALTH SYSTEMS

RAPPORTEUR: BIRGITTA SACRÉDEUS (EPP/SE)

MAIN PROPOSALS: Respecting the Member States' right to decide for themselves how healthcare should be designed, organized and funded, and given that in many EU countries it is local and regional authorities that are responsible for health systems: it is essential that everyone has access to healthcare, and that jointly funded care is provided in accordance with needs healthcare systems need to be adapted to be better able to deal with chronic disease mental health must be given the same priority as physical health greater emphasis should be placed on preventive action and health promotion cooperation between healthcare and social care needs to be improved the primary care systems need to be strengthened to meet the needs of ageing populations, create better chains of care and reduce the unnecessary use of hospital care greater emphasis should be placed on patient empowerment and personcentred care

more efforts should be made to guarantee access to well-trained healthcare and social care professionals investments must be made in new digital technology, making healthcare more effective and offering new opportunities for prevention, detection, diagnosis, treatment, provision of information and communication further actions must be taken to address antibiotic resistance the EU should support the Member States and their local and regional authorities in their efforts to improve public health and develop healthcare, for example by stimulating cross-border cooperation in highly specialized healthcare, promoting exchange of knowledge and experience (for example by establishing an Erasmus like programme for healthcare professionals), supporting innovation, and continuing to engage in the global effort to tackle antibiotic resistance

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© EPP Group in the European Committee of the Regions, 2017

greater focus should be on quality of care and clinical results