Several countries in Europe  live now under strict budgetary constraints, due to a global economic crisis, and a situation of high public debt. In this seminar we will look at the impact of this situation in the care of patients. Is there a measurable negative impact? What are the main reasons for a change in health status in a setting of economic crisis, and how can hospital pharmacists preserve the quality and impact of pharmaceutical intervention. There is another side to this: a crisis can be seen as an opportunity for change and improvement. In times of need it’s easier to overcome the inertia towards change, and some lessons may be learned that will influence our practice for the better.

 

 

• To give an overview of the known consequences of the current financial crisis in healthcare and its impact on health outcomes;

• To discuss possible pathways for a better future in the healthcare setting, even with shrinking resources;

• To give an overview of threats and opportunities in economic crisis, from the hospital pharmacist’s point of view;

• To provide examples of changes that impact on hospital pharmacy, and of possible pathways for improvement.

 

 

After the presentation the participant should:

 

• describe the known consequences of the current financial crisis in healthcare and its impact on health outcomes;

• identify the threats and opportunities in economic crisis, from the hospital pharmacist’s point of view;

• translate the examples shown to support improvement changes in its practice, in a setting of shrinking budgets.