Bad Hofgastein, April 19th, 2012 – In the run-up to its fifteenth annual congress which will take place from 3 to 6 October 2012, the European Health Forum Gastein has again initiated the European Health Award to the value of 10,000 Euros. The award will be sponsored by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Health and FOPI, the association of research-based pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in Austria.

The EHFG initiated the European Health Award in 2007, on the occasion of its tenth anniversary in order to recognise health policy initiatives of European importance that have proven to contribute to meeting health challanges in Europe.

“The purpose of the European Health Award is to highlight and reward European cross-boarder initiatives that can contribute in a clear and significant way to improving health and treatment“, says EHFG President Dr Guenther Leiner. “Today´s health problems are more multifaceted and complex than ever. Demographic change, technological advances and scarce resources are the cornerstones defining future health policy in Europe.“

The award, last year, went to the “Child Safety Card”, a pioneering system for monitoring and reducing injuries to children. In 2010, the award was won by the “Chronic Diseases Alliance“ a project which unites ten public and professional health organisations active in fields such as heart disease, stroke, hypertension, diabetes, kidney disease, cancers, respiratory or liver diseases for a common prevention approach. In 2009, the winner was the „European Practice Assessment“ (EPA) project which improved the cross-border knowledge and experience exchange for primary care general practitioners. In 2008 the CAWT Kidney Project, a cross-border cooperation project for improving the quality of nephrological care, won the award. In 2007 the “European Alliance against depression” was the first initiative to receive the prize.

The selection criteria

- A health policy initiative of European importance that focuses on public health or health care delivery addressing an important  threat to the health of the population.

- The initiative must demonstrate a benefit to the health and health care of the population in terms of prevention, improving quality of care, access, efficiency and cost effectiveness of care.

- The initiative shall be already in the implementation phase in at least two European countries, although it does not have to  be completed at the time of application. 

 Expected outcomes and improvements as well as initial results must be shown and be measurable.

- The health policy initiative has to be transferable to other European countries.

Applications to be considered for the award must be submitted by Monday, 29 May 2012. Information and application form can be found at www.ehfg.org/de/healthaward.html.

Submitted projects will be evaluated by a renowned jury consisting of representatives from the fields of health care, science, politics and economics.

Photos from the award ceremony at the EHFG 2011: http://www.ehfg.org/award.html

EHFG Press Office: 

Dr. Birgit Kofler

B&K Kommunikationsberatung GmbH

T:  +43 1 319 43 78 13 

M: +43 676 636 89 30

Skype: bkk_birgit.kofler

E-Mail: press@ehfg.org