Congress report - European Health Forum Gastein

Forum V: The informed patient / citizen: a new partner
in the political health arena
As set out in this Communication, a central theme of the new Community approach to health
is openness and transparency. The Commission therefore announced that it intended to set
up a European Health Forum as an important element of the new health strategy. This would
be an information and consultation mechanism to ensure that the aims of the Community’s
health strategy and how they are being pursued are made clear to the public and respond to
their needs. It would also allow representative organisations of patients, health professionals
and other stakeholders, such as health care providers, to have an opportunity to make
contributions to health policy development and implementation and the setting of priorities
for action.
In order to prepare the establishment of the Forum, the Commission prepared a
comprehensive Consultation document on 20 December 2000. This was distributed to
interested parties and placed on the Commission’s website to achieve maximum coverage.
The document raised key issues related to the composition, scope, structure and functioning
of the Forum.
While the deadline for putting forward views and responses was initially set at 15 February
2001, all responses received up till now have been taken into account. The Commission
wishes to thank all respondents for their contributions which address a wide range of issues
and questions related to the creation of this body.
The Commission has received 130 responses from various institutions and organisations to
date. Respondents can be divided into four main groups:
• non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the health field, representing patients
and citizens views;
• organisations representing health professionals and trade unions active in the
health field;
• organisations representing health care providers and different health and social
services;
• organisations representing industry in areas of key relevance to health (e.g.
pharmaceuticals, medical devices or food).
A number of individuals also presented their points of view. These were largely either health
professionals or academics working in the health field.
Finally, the Commission received a number of reactions from national and regional
governments in Member States and some candidate countries and organisations representing
local and regional governments and entities. A contribution was also received from EFTA.
2. Purpose and scope of the European Health Forum
The consultation on this point revealed a general consensus among the respondents,
welcoming the Commission’s initiative to set up a Health Forum. Not surprisingly, most
organisations also indicated their willingness to participate in it.
There is also a general view in the replies that a structured approach is needed. This would
be the only way to guarantee the openness and transparency in the Community’s approach
to the Forum. However, there have to be different solutions adapted to the needs of different
actors. Some organisations, for example, may be more interested in exchanging information,
others would like to make an input into policy development. Some bodies may want to
influence only a single issue, while others have a broad agenda. Some may be active at
European level, while yet others are national or regional organisations.
International Forum Gastein, Tauernplatz 1, A-5630 Bad Hofgastein
Tel.: +43 (6432) 7110-70, Fax: Ext. 71, e-mail: info@ehfg.org, website: www.ehfg.org
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