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EU Health Coalition
The EU Health Coalition is a multi-stakeholder initiative looking at mapping the future of healthcare in Europe. In particular, the Coalition explores how to make the most out of innovation, investigates the role of the European Union in addressing healthcare challenges, and critically assess how different sectors can converge to deliver the best outcomes for patients in Europe. The vision of the Coalition revolves around people-centricity, prevention and wellbeing (including health inequalities), and value- and outcomes-based healthcare.
The EU Health Coalition brings together 43 organisations representing patients, EU research-oriented medical societies, industry organisations, healthcare providers, regional and local health authorities and other relevant stakeholders, making it the largest and most diverse and influential for the health policy community in Brussels. EHMA joined the EU Health Coalition in 2019 to ensure that health management best practices are taken into account when discussing the future of health in Europe and issuing recommendations.
The work of the EU Health Coalition
Since its inception, the EU Health Coalition worked with its members to issue recommendations to health policy and decision makers around four themes:
- Boosting health research & innovation
- Improving access to health innovation and reducing inequalities
- Accelerating the digital transformation of European health systems
- Advancing health systems integration.
As EHMA we are active in the working groups dealing with the digital transformation of healthcare and integration of health systems.
In 2022 the EU Health Coalition presented its most recent set of recommendations during the 2022 EU Health Summit ‘Towards an EU Health Union‘. The EU Health Coalition’s vision is of a Europe where health and life sciences represent the third strategic pillar alongside the green and digital transitions, and where health and care systems are without siloes and centred on people and patients. To deliver this vision, the EU Health Coalition proposes the following recommendations:
- Digital transformation: At this unprecedented moment of change, we must ensure that the European Health Data Space (EHDS) is designed to collect standardised data; that investment is made in digital infrastructure and skills; and that the EU embraces a common approach required to make Europe a world-class AI hub.
- Health system integration: To support continuity of care within Member States and across EU borders, we call for EU health policies and programmes to strengthen and measure the implementation of integrated care and Health in All Policies. This should be supported by a dedicated report on ‘EU Health Systems Integration’ in the ‘State of Health in the EU’ process.
- Boosting research & innovation: For European citizens to benefit from a strong R&I ecosystem, the EU must invest in human, intellectual and innovation capital; ensure alignment between the EU Industrial and Pharmaceutical Strategies; and drive patient-centric development of preventative and therapeutic tools which address patients’’ unmet medical needs.
- Access to innovation: To support patient access to the fruits of research, the EU should establish a monitoring centre for innovative health technologies and clinical practices; support patient-centric and outcomes-based approaches to healthcare; and view healthcare expenditure as an investment not a cost.
What our Members say
I have been active in EHMA since the first years of the '90s and I have seen its evolution from a small association of members interested in sharing knowledge on health management practices to the current status of reference and advisory key player for EU, health systems and organisations, stakeholders associations, industry and universities. EHMA is now a unique knowledge hub, policy advisor, community of practice and network of best in class organisations involved in health policy and management. A place where health managers can build their competences, policy-makers and stakeholder associations envision how to implement and sustain change through health management, industry leaders understand how to engage more effectively with health organisations and systems. The right place to nurture and grow health management capabilities and capacity for every stakeholder of health systems.
Prof. Federico Lega, University of Milan, Italy
Health management has a crucial function in shaping public health and health system challenges. The Medical University of Varna, Bulgaria had success in collaborating with EHMA on EU-funded projects that has resourced us to create new health management competencies for the future workforce. In addition to all classical definitions, health management is a science dealing with individuals, groups, and society at large. It is an art contributing to the beauty of our lives and an interactive communication process at all levels of institutions and human energy. I have also had the pleasure to chair the South Eastern European Special Interest Group which gives members a space to discuss and tools to address how health systems are managed in our regions.
Prof. Todorka Kostadinova, Medical University of Varna, Bulgaria
I enjoy the high level of interaction and engagement in EHMA’s activities, in particular during the annual conference where the panel discussions are rich and well prepared. As a hospital manager and professor of health management, EHMA motivates and inspires me to be creative. You go back home feeling energised from seeing old friends and making new connections, as well as being convinced of serving as EHMA’s ambassador. It’s a strong feeling of interdisciplinary engagement, but it also feels like being part of family-like community.
Prof. Sandra C. Buttigieg, University of Malta, Malta
EHMA is a pre-eminent organisation for everyone working in planning, managing and delivering health services across Europe. As a long standing member of EHMA I have always been impressed by the vibrant community of managers, researchers and academics it has created and by the many opportunities for sharing knowledge and funding opportunities it has brought to its members. Its international scope is impressive and its impact is often felt in management and research across European and national health systems.
Prof. Axel Kaehne, Edge Hill University, UK
Health workforce has become more essential in operating, managing and maintaining health systems lately, particularly in crisis and emergency situations. European healthcare professions and the workforce need to be high on the agenda of managers and decision makers. The Health Services Management Training Centre, Semmelweis University in Hungary is a longstanding EHMA member, because it connects us with collaborators and experts, with whom we can have complex debates, from whom we can learn and at the end find solutions in various challenging fields of healthcare management.
Dr Eszter Kovács, Health Services Management Training Centre, Semmelweis University, Hungary
As a hospital administrator and health management professor, I see on a daily basis that the healthcare challenges require talented and skilled managers to transform it. the EHMA membership has been beneficial to bring healthcare management research and education to the demanding healthcare services world, promoting healthcare management competencies and knowledge creation.
Dr Alexandre Lourenco, APAH - Association of Portuguese Hospital Managers, Portugal
Many healthcare systems in Europe and beyond are facing similar challenges which require innovative and creative solutions. EHMA’s annual conference, webinars, Programme Directors’ group and other activities and resources provide incredible opportunities for networking, connecting and sharing experiences. A distinct feature of EHMA is the diversity of members with representation from many countries, sectors and different communities of practice – academic, policy-makers, practitioners, managers, leaders and students. The annual conference is a highlight in the calendar year, offering a friendly, fun and learningful environment for emerging and established members to engage, collaborate and meet up with old and new friends. I am proud to be a member of the EHMA Board.
Prof. Ann Mahon, University of Manchester, UK
Society evolution, pandemics and ageing modify health needs. So, health policies and services are to change dramatically. EHMA, through webinars, workshops and annual conference provides an excellent insight to a professional changing world, favouring closeness to management innovation and the protagonists of these changes. As a primary care services’ manager, participating in EHMA activities is really worth it and allows to involve oneself in the innovation processes.
Dr Antoni Peris Grao, Consorci Castelldefels Agents de Salut (CASAP), Spain