Health Policy in the EU: the Impact on Healthcare Equalities Strategies for Trans People
29 April 2008 EU <strong>and</strong> National Health Care Policies Health policy within the twenty-seven Member States of the <strong>Europe</strong>an Union, as with countries throughout the world, is continuously developing as policymakers aim to strike a balance between many variables that contribute to the efficacy of healthcare systems. Reforms <strong>and</strong> systemic restructuring are frequent <strong>and</strong> substantial. As medicine evolves, States look for the most effective ways to take advantage of available resources. Whilst developing healthcare systems, policymakers must maximise the availability of skilled practitioners, contain costs of new technologies <strong>and</strong> treatments, recognise shifting population demographics, <strong>and</strong> account for increases in dem<strong>and</strong>s for services <strong>and</strong> changes in patient expectations. These are just some of the factors that must be carefully considered whilst developing policies that will most successfully meet the needs of the population. <strong>Europe</strong> has a long tradition of playing host to innovation <strong>and</strong> leadership in healthcare, including a strong history of quality medical training <strong>and</strong> public health provision. In the present day, the <strong>Europe</strong>an Union has taken a leading role in identifying health priorities for its Member States <strong>and</strong> has a major influence on <strong>Europe</strong>an health policy (R<strong>and</strong>all, 2001). Yet it is each individual country, rather than the EU, that maintains direct responsibility over the policy <strong>and</strong> the provision of healthcare for its people, resulting in a multitude of service delivery systems among Member States. From one EU country to the next, there are significant differences in the ways in which healthcare is financed <strong>and</strong> is carried out. However, regardless of these differences, national policymakers in <strong>Europe</strong> have reached consensus on the primary objectives of healthcare services. According to McKee, MacLehose <strong>and</strong> Nolte (2004), their priorities are universal access for all citizens to high-quality effective care which is responsive to patient concerns <strong>and</strong> efficient use of resources. Although each country’s healthcare system is unique, policymaking <strong>and</strong> coordination at the <strong>Europe</strong>an level are important for a number of reasons. The Single <strong>Europe</strong>an Act gave the <strong>Europe</strong>an Commission a regulatory role in the market of healthcare goods <strong>and</strong> services. The Maastricht <strong>and</strong> Amsterdam Treaties further defined the EU’s role in health by encouraging <strong>and</strong> lending support to cooperation between States <strong>and</strong> international organisations, by integrating health into EU policies, <strong>and</strong> by promoting consumer health, safety <strong>and</strong> economic interests (R<strong>and</strong>all, 2001). Aside from the importance of the EU’s role in the healthcare market, it is recognised that there are areas in health <strong>and</strong> medicine where cooperation among countries is valuable in ensuring a high level of human protection. This is of particular significance for issues that involve cross-border impact, the movement of people <strong>and</strong> the public health of the <strong>Europe</strong>an Community (Commission of the <strong>Europe</strong>an Communities, 2007). Concurrent with these duties, the <strong>Europe</strong>an Union is looking for ways to coordinate social protection <strong>and</strong> inclusion policies. This includes efforts to tackle disparities in health due to social, economic <strong>and</strong> environmental inequalities (R<strong>and</strong>all, 2001). <strong>Transgender</strong> <strong>and</strong> transsexual healthcare service users are among the groups that may greatly benefit from this coordination. As trans people are often vulnerable to social <strong>and</strong> economic discrimination, it is essential that policymakers recognise the effect that this can have when discrimination <strong>and</strong> prejudice against trans people is institutionalised, from frontline service delivery to discrimination in healthcare funding decisions made locally <strong>and</strong> nationally. It is vital that healthcare policies are critically evaluated to ensure that trans people’s unique circumstances <strong>and</strong> needs are taken into consideration. Inequalities must be
Change language