European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies

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• New HiT health system review on Sweden
  04-05-2012
  The new HiT (Health Systems in Transition) health system review for Sweden reflects the more critical attitude that has been taken towards the traditional model of publicly organised and decentralized health services. Reforms that started in the 1990s have gradually diversified the spectrum and introduced new forms of governance, also aiming to extend the level of choice and responsiveness towards patients. Despite the fact that health outcomes and clinical quality in Sweden may be among the best in the world, much focus has been put in recent years on increasing regional transparency and improving the safety, quality and efficiency of services. The further development of primary care and elderly care as well as a better coordination between providers have been priorities for policy makers. The new report officially launched on 10 May in Stockholm at meetings hosted by the Ministry of Health and the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions.
• New Eurohealth: Health systems and the financial crisis
  23-04-2012
  This issue of Eurohealth, the second with a new layout and design, provides an overview article case studies on health system responses to the financial crisis from the Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece and Ireland. Other articles include: the patient perspective on the Professional Qualifications Directive; the evolution of obesity in Spain; the performance of chronic care system in Denmark; competition in the Dutch health insurance system; pharmaceutical market reforms in Portugal; and Eurohealth Monitor.
• New HiT health system review on Poland is published
  20-04-2012
  The new HiT (Health Systems in Transition) health system review for Poland has just been released. Extensive reform efforts have taken place in Poland since the start of political and economic transformation in 1989, including the first systemic changes in the health sector.
• Health in the Veneto Region of Italy
  19-04-2012
  The Veneto Region is one of Italy’s richest regions and the health of its resident population compares favourably with other regions in Italy. A new HiT (Health Systems in Transition) health system review for the Veneto Region has just been published and the publication explores the health system of this important region and some of the challenges (an ageing population, the incidence of chronic diseases, as well as the ever-present problem of keeping the regional health budget balanced) the administration currently faces. This new report illustrates the important role that regional authorities play in certain decentralised health systems.
• Kazakstan's health system
  29-03-2012
  The new HiT (Health Systems in Transition) health system review for Kazakhstan has just been released. Since becoming independent, Kazakhstan has undertaken major efforts in reforming its health system. Two comprehensive reform programmes have been developed in the last decade, and there has been progress on promoting evidence-based medicine and developing and introducing new clinical practice guidelines, as well as facility-level quality improvements. However, as this publication shows, key aspects of health system performance are still in need of improvement. A key challenge is regional inequities in health financing, health care utilization and health outcomes, although some improvements have been achieved in recent years.
• WHO Barcelona Course in Health Financing
  20-03-2012
  The WHO Barcelona Office for Health Systems Strengthening is hosting the second Barcelona Course in Health Financing from May 14 to 18, 2012. Application deadline is 28th of March, 2012. The special theme of the course is moving towards and sustaining universal coverage with a highlight on how to counter the impact of economic downturns.
• New HiT health system review on Denmark is published
  20-03-2012
  The new HiT (Health Systems in Transition) health system review for Denmark reflects recent health trends and structural changes in the Danish health system. Lifestyle related risk factors and chronic illnesses are increasingly becoming major health issues which are still more challenging as an effect of the ageing population . This has pressed the health system towards a model of provision focused much more on the management of chronic care conditions. Although this report reveals a system that generally provides high quality services within each sector, authors show that the fragmented structure of the Danish health system poses serious challenges in providing effectively coordinated care. Traditionally characterised as a decentralised system, several reforms from 2007 have strengthened coordination and centralised control. The new HiT will be officially presented at a meeting of the Chief Medical Officers taking place in Copenhagen on 12 April in the context of the Danish EU Presidency.
• New HiT health system review on Turkey is published
  23-02-2012
  The new HiT (Health Systems in Transition) health system review for Turkey has just been published. Turkey has accomplished remarkable improvements in terms of health status in the last three decades.
• Apply now for Summer School on performance assessment
  15-02-2012
  The Observatory Summer School will take place in Venice, 22–28 July 2012. It is a chance to spend a week working intensely with other senior to mid level health policy makers, planners and professionals with expert support to marshal the evidence on performance, to review what it means for health systems and to share experiences of responding through policy and in practice. Early applications are encouraged as places are limited.
• New HiT on Russian Federation
  01-02-2012
  The new HiT on the Russian Federation has just been published.
• New book examining the link between good health and economic growth
  19-01-2012
  A new Observatory  book looks at health systems from a new and stimulating perspective: Health systems, health, wealth and societal well-being. Assessing the case for investing in health systems.