Link to EAHP Statements

• Section 1 – Introductory Statements and Governance: Statements – 1.1, 1.2, 1.3
• Section 2 – Selection, Procurement and Distribution: Statements – 2.1, 2.5
• Section 3 – Production and Compounding: Statements – 3.1
• Section 4 – Clinical Pharmacy: Statements – 4.1, 4.6

Abstract

“The first wealth is health”, a quote from philosopher Ralph Waldo Emmerson, is more actual than ever. Thanks to innovation our healthcare has become very performant and accessible, but nearly unsustainable at the same time. Due to high-price innovative therapies, rising costs, aging, continuing drug shortages and environmental impact the time to change course and to reengineer our healthcare systems is now.

Shorter lengths of stay, possible therapies in day clinics, transmural care and home hospitalization initiatives change the need for resources in the different lines of healthcare while the organizational structure and financing model is still often historically pillarized. Market access entry agreements, pay for performance, pathology financing and fair review of reimbursement criteria (with respect for ICER and ethical questions) are tools to facilitate this transition.

But also, human aspects as a promotion of prevention, a healthy life style, healthy work environment for care workers, job satisfaction, work-life balance, shortage in the labour market, task purification, lean administrative burden and potential benefits from automation and digitalization are drivers for a sustainable system.

Last but not least, there’s more focus on the carbon footprint of our healthcare systems. The pandemic and the financial crisis showed us the importance of local production capacity, a short supply chain and circular economy with minimal waste and medicines residues in nature. Smaller and biodegradable packs can also add to a green pharmacy and in the meantime have positive impact on antimicrobial resistance or overconsumption. Responsible procurement answers to this within the legal possibilities.

In this keynote the main hurdles and drivers are touched in order to give a general vision on how to evolve towards sustainable quality healthcare systems.

Learning objectives

After the session, the participant should be able to: 

• To objectively criticise the current healthcare systems
• To value different drivers for evolve towards sustainable healthcare systems
• To express the differences in European countries regarding hurdles and possibilities

Educational need addressed

In order to guarantee affordable healthcare in the future most healthcare systems must be reengineered with focus on sustainability. A general vision and reflection allows critical appraisal of the different drivers for this evolution.

Keywords

Sustainable healthcare, healthcare reform, management, reimbursement