Nursing care in Europe faces a number of simultaneous crises, EHFG President Günther Leiner told the closing EHFG press conference today. While the demographic pyramid became ever more lopsided, there was a shortage of care staff to look after Europe’s ageing and ailing population. Nor were there enough resources to pay for such care, or – often – any guarantee that standards could be maintained. The proceeds of the transaction tax proposed by the European Commission could be used to fill the gap, he said. 

Decision-makers and public transport sector representatives gathered in Gothenburg on 5-7 October for the UITP Conference ‘Urban Governance: Getting people on board’ with the aim of identifying new governance approaches to guarantee sustainable future urban mobility. Integrating public transport and sustainable mobility in urban planning and policies is critical for cities if they are to make cost savings (for individuals and the community), protect the environment and make urban space more liveable and enjoyable.

Health costs are already swallowing up 10% of GDP in the OECD countries, with a 4% year-on-year increase in the EU. The already aged European population has a life expectancy that is growing by a year every four years. And there is an economic crisis. Small wonder that Health Technology Assessment (HTA) is becoming a key tool for determining the safety, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness of therapies and technologies. Such assessments can be pivotal to decisions about whether diagnostic/ treatment costs are reimbursed.

CEEP welcomes the Commission staff working paper on the application of EU public procurement law to relations between contracting authorities (“public public cooperation”).This is a positive signal to public service providers who need clarity and simplicity when carrying out their mission for citizens.

Despite huge increases in spending over the last three decades, progress in dealing with the most frequent and burdensome diseases is appalling. The EU Flagship Pilot IT Future of Medicine (ITFoM) could remedy that, experts said at the European Health Forum  Gastein. The flagship‘s investments of 1 billion euros in the course of the next decade are expected to save up to 100 billion euros per year in health expenditures in the future.