Health policy responses to the financial crisis in Europe

The global financial crisis that began in 2007 can be classified as a health system shock – that is, an unexpected occurrence originating outside the health system that has a large negative effect on the availability of health system resources or a large positive effect on the demand for health services. In 2009, WHO’s Regional Committee for Europe adopted a resolution (EUR/RC59/R3) urging Member States to ensure that their health systems would continue to protect and promote universal access to effective health services during a time of economic crisis. To date, there has been no systematic cross-country analysis of health policy responses to the financial crisis in Europe, although some overviews of health system responses to the crisis have been published. This policy summary aims to address a gap in the literature by presenting a framework for analysing health policy responses to economic shocks; summarizing the results of a survey of health policy responses to the financial crisis in the European Region’s 53 Member States; and discussing the potential effects of these responses on health system performance.

Меры, предусматриваемые в политике здравоохранения в Европе в ответ на финансовый кризис

Глобальный финансовый кризис, начавшийся в 2007 г., можно определить как шок для системы здравоохранения, т.е. неожиданноеявление, возникшее вне системы здравоохранения и оказывающее большое отрицательное влияние на наличие ресурсов в системе здравоохранения или большое положительное влияние на спрос на услуги здравоохранения. В 2009 г. Европейский региональный комитет ВОЗ принял резолюцию(EUR/RC59/R3), в которой призвал государства-члены добиваться того, чтобы их системы здравоохранения в период экономического кризиса продолжали защищать и поощрять всеобщий доступ к полноценныммедико-санитарным услугам. На сегодняшний день не было выполнено ни одного систематического сравнительного анализа мер реагирования систем здравоохранения на финансовый кризис в разных странах Европы,хотя и было опубликовано несколько обзоров ответных мер, которые принимаются системами здравоохранения в связи с этим кризисом. Предлагаемое “Краткое изложение принципов” предназначено для того, чтобы восполнить пробел в литературе: в нем представлена система анализа ответных мер политики здравоохранения в связи с экономическими потрясениями, обобщаются результаты обследования ответных мер политики здравоохранения в связи с финансовым кризисом во всех 53-х государствах-членах Европейского региона ВОЗ и рассматриваются возможные последствия этих мер для деятельностисистем здравоохранения.

Health targets in Europe: learning from experience

Health targets can help to improve the governance of health systems. They express a commitment to achieve specified outputs over a defined period, and allow progress towards broad goals and objectives to be monitored. They may be quantitative or qualitative, and based on outcomes or processes. This book draws on a series of case studies on the use of health targets, written by experts from Catalonia (Spain), England (United Kingdom), Flanders (Belgium), France, Germany, Hungary and the Russian Federation. It reviews the major technical, managerial and political challenges of defining and implementing health targets. While they help focus attention on agreed goals, to realize their potential they need to be based on evidence, accepted by those who work to achieve them, be embedded in frameworks of mutual accountability, linked to appropriate incentives and/or sanctions and supported by an adequate intelligence infrastructure. The experiences of these countries and regions can serve as examples to all those in government who strive to improve the performance of their health systems.

Pharmaceutical policies in Finland: challenges and opportunities

Health systems are under continuous pressure to meet the demands of their populations. In Finland, one area currently under review is that of pharmaceutical policy. Following a request from the Health Department, Ministry of Health and Social Affairs, the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies commissioned a review of the regulatory system of pharmaceutical policies in Finland. The assessment suggests that despite the challenges of a very developed system of pharmaceutical regulation, practical options exist to improve transparency and pricing policies, to strengthen the institutional environment and to improve the development of pharmacotherapy practices. The purpose of this book is not to prescribe solutions, but to suggest a range of options for policy-makers to reflect on so as to assist them in the process of policy review. Given this approach and the international perspective the report takes, it should stimulate further debate on the continuing development of pharmaceutical policies well beyond the confines of Finland's borders.