On Thursday 3rd May EAHP attended an event hosted by the European Commission on the future of its Health Programmes funding stream.
In November 2011 the Commission published its proposals for this area of its activity, which gives financial assistance to projects in areas of pan-European health cooperation. Called “Health for Growth”, the third package of funding for the 2014 to 2020 period will more explicitly link decisions to support projects with links to economic growth needs, for example by giving financial support to schemes designed to improve the cost-effectiveness of health systems through e-health solutions or structural and service innovation.
 

Health for Growth will allocate €446 million from the Community budget to actions linked to health in the period 2014-2020. It will be allocated according to four key priorities:
1. establishing innovative and viable health systems (48% of the budget),
2. improving access to, and the reliability of, high quality health care for citizens (22%),
3. promoting health and preventing illness (21%) and
4. protecting citizens from cross-border health threats (9%).
 

The event heard speeches from John Dalli, European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy, and representatives of the European Parliament and European Council. Experience reports were provided from stakeholders who had been involved in Commission funded cross-border projects in areas such as rare disease coordination, health security initiatives and donor management schemes. In total the Health Programmes funding package had enabled the Commission to support 673 health projects between 2003 and 2012.

Full information about the event, including a webstream, and successful projects funded to date here
Information about the proposed Third Programme (“Health for Growth”) 2014-20 here