26 January 2023 - Online
Digital transformation is taking place rapidly in all sectors across Europe, but the challenges presented by wide-scale digitalisation have been particularly apparent in health systems. European health systems are facing an unprecedented inflexion point; there is a unique opportunity to build upon the public health lessons learnt during the COVID-19 pandemic while maintaining existing momentum towards digital improvements in healthcare.
Of the various facets of our health systems, few are set to be as heavily impacted by these unique circumstances as vaccination. The European vaccine ecosystem, from research and development, to supply chains and logistics, to user uptake and acceptance, has undergone an extraordinary upheaval in the past few years as countries raced to immunise their populations against COVID-19. Among the changes that took place, many of the most impactful, such as the EU Digital COVID Certificate, were propelled by digital transformation.
Now, as we work to develop a European Health Data Space and launch digital health tools like MyHealth@EU, it is essential that we ensure that the European vaccination ecosystem is fully considered and included in the continuing digital transformation of our health systems. As much as vaccines are emotionally and politically tied to the COVID-19 pandemic, and as much as we want to move past the pandemic era and towards a brighter future, it is critical that we bring our vaccination ecosystem forward with us, because effective routine vaccination programmes remain a cornerstone of a healthy Europe. This event brought together a range of perspectives and provoke collaborative discussion about how we can collectively shape the future of vaccination in Europe.
Zachary Desson
Zachary Desson
Zach is Policy Manager (Health Systems) at EHMA. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Wilfrid Laurier University and a joint Master’s degree in Health Economics and Management from the Erasmus University Rotterdam, University of Oslo, University of Bologna and Management Centre Innsbruck.
Daphné Holt PhD, MBA
Daphné Holt PhD, MBA
Daphné Holt PhD, MBA, is Chair of the Coalition for Life-Course Immunisation (CLCI). She joined the world of charity management in 1999 after 30 years in medical research and education with the UK Medical Research Council and at Imperial College in London. After working on international development for the Meningitis Trust (UK) she joined the Confederation of Meningitis Organisations (CoMO) to become the first executive director and to establish CoMO as a registered organisation in Perth, Western Australia. CoMO now has 40 members in 26 countries around the world and Daphne has served as a member of the Governing Council of CoMO and Vice President. During her career in science and as a charity manager Daphné Holt has published and presented on meningococcal disease, especially in the newborn. She also served on the WHO Working Group on the terms of reference for the International Coordinating Group (ICG) on Vaccine Provision for Epidemic Meningitis Control. Daphné Holt retired in March 2010 and lives in France.
Sibilia Quilici
Sibilia Quilici
Sibilia Quilici (MBA, MSc) is Executive Director of Vaccines Europe at EFPIA – European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations. Sibilia Quilici joined Vaccines Europe as Executive Director in January 2021. Vaccines Europe (VE) represents major innovative research-based vaccine companies operating in Europe, including small and medium-sized enterprises. Together with its direct membership of 15 leading vaccine companies and a network of 24 National Vaccine Industry Groups across Europe, Vaccines Europe’s mission is to drive a sustainable and resilient vaccine environment in Europe, protecting people against infectious diseases at all stages of life, as well as contribute to the European economy. Sibilia holds an International MBA in entrepreneurship and MScs in Health Economics & biostatistics. With nearly 15 years of experience in working for the vaccine industry, she holds a track record in studies valuing the full benefits of preventative measures (such as vaccines), from a micro and macro socio-medicoeconomic perspective, addressing all relevant stakeholder concerns (supra-national institutions, government, industry, society, healthcare professionals and citizens).
Bleddyn Rees
Bleddyn Rees
Bleddyn Rees is Deputy Chair of the European Connected Health Alliance and Chair of the Digital Health Society.
Bleddyn is a vastly experienced commercial lawyer with 30 years experience of outsourcings, privatisations and complex contracting and projects. He has a unique CV for a private sector lawyer, having spent three and a half years on secondment as General Counsel of the Commercial Directorate of the Department of Health.
On his secondment to the Department of Health he advised the Minsters (Prime Minister, Secretary of State, Ministers of State), Special Advisors and NHS organisations and gave evidence to the Health Select Committee and the Public Accounts Committee. Bleddyn has a very detailed understanding of the UK health sector and regulatory framework.
MEP Tomislav Sokol
MEP Tomislav Sokol
Tomislav Sokol was born in Zagreb in 1982. He obtained his first degree in law at the Faculty of Law, University of Zagreb, in 2006, magna cum laude. He then obtained a Masters of Law (LL.M.) specialising in European Union Law at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KUL), Belgium, in 2009, magna cum laude. He defended his PhD at KUL, dealing with free movement of cross-border health care services in the EU and its impact on national health insurance systems in 2014.
He was an Assistant Minister in the Ministry of Science and Education in 2017, after which he became a Member of the Croatian Parliament. He was a Member of the Croatian Parliament until July 2019, when he became a Member of the European Parliament. He is a Member of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO), Special Committee on the COVID-19 pandemic: lessons learned and recommendations for the future (COVI) and also EPP Vice Coordinator in COVI Committee, and a Substitute Member of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) and Committee on Regional Development (REGI) in the European Parliament.
So far, he has published around 20 papers and 1 book on issues concerning EU law, including several articles in European journals, such as the European Law Review and the European Law Journal. He has presented papers at many international conferences and worked on different research projects. Previously, he worked in a legal practice and is currently a Senior Lecturer at the Zagreb School of Economics and Management where he has taught Introduction to European Union and Principles of Law courses since the academic year 2010/2011. He is also an assistant professor at the Catholic University of Croatia where he has taught since the academic year 2016/2017. His areas of professional interest include the law of the European common market, EU health law, competition law, International and European social law and International and European trade law.
This webinar is sponsored by MSD
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
