Europe - 41 per cent of key EU opinion leaders surveyed by Health First Europe support the creation of a unique European healthcare system in the long-term

Citation

(2007), "Europe - 41 per cent of key EU opinion leaders surveyed by Health First Europe support the creation of a unique European healthcare system in the long-term", International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, Vol. 20 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijhcqa.2007.06220fab.007

Europe - 41 per cent of key EU opinion leaders surveyed by Health First Europe support the creation of a unique European healthcare system in the long-term

Europe, Middle East and Africa

41 per cent of key EU opinion leaders surveyed by Health First Europe support the creation of a unique European healthcare system in the long-term

This is just one of the main findings outlined in a summary report, detailing the results of a survey conducted by Health First Europe (HFE) of 77 EU healthcare opinion leaders. Other key findings include:

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  89 per cent advocate investment in medical technology innovation to improve healthcare efficiency and limit healthcare deficits;

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  88 per cent believe that public health authorities in Member States should provide information on how to apply for healthcare cross border;

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  86 per cent believe that the EU should be competent for the coordination of technical resources (e.g. e-health, patient records), technological advances (e.g. medical equipment and diagnostics), knowledge, best practice and standards; and

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  65 per cent support the coordination of market approval of all health technologies through a regulatory agency (like the US Food and Drugs Administration) by the EU.

The report published, on the occasion of HFE’s third anniversary represents the conclusion of a five month-long survey of a limited and selected group of Members of the European Parliament, Commission officials, health attachés from Member State Permanent Representations to the EU, as well as healthcare stakeholders. The report provides an illuminating insight into EU opinion leaders’ views on how best to tackle today’s patient and healthcare priorities.

HFE Honorary President, Mel Read, thanked all participants of the survey, and noted “The key findings of the report are most revealing. Indeed, the high number of responses – 41 per cent – that support a unique EU-wide healthcare system in the long term, show a substantial shift in mentality. Especially, considering that only ten years ago before the ratification of the Amsterdam Treaty, such an idea would have been unthinkable. Responses to this survey provide us with an honest picture of the perceptions of opinion leaders in 2007. The report paves the way for an open and frank discussion on health challenges in Europe.”

An on-line version of the survey is available on www.healthfirsteurope.org