FOSTERING FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY OF HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS IN EUROPE

Healthcare is one the largest sectors in the EU in terms of employment, expenditures and added value. Steadily growing over the last decades, it amounted to almost 10% of GDP in 2009. This makes it one of the largest segments of the economy.

In 2005, COCIR created a COCIR structural funds focus group which was composed of company experts acting in Europe, especially in Eastern European countries, as it was recognised that the structural funds were not enough used in healthcare in those specific countries.

In 2007, the scope of this committee was renamed in order to cover sustainability of healthcare systems. This group issued the COCIR White Paper on sustainable healthcare in 2008. 

In 2010, COCIR decided to change its focus in order to concentrate on Hospital of Today (HOT) in order to provide other type of COCIR competencies to Commissionner Dalli. Sequencies of meetings took placein order to share key best practice in Europe.

In 2012, this committee decided to focus on financial sustainability. This committee is composed of company experts in financing models and in long term investment processes.

In March 2013, this committee issued a COCIR report in order to share its experience on how to foster financial sustainability of healthcare systems in Europe. 

 
COCIR is engaged in a number of projects to optimise the use of appropriate technologies, services and solutions in health services, including:

• Innovative financing investment solutions
• Best practice workflows in hospitals and between inpatient and outpatient care
• Best use of EU funds (including cohesion funds, etc)
• Moving from "Sick Care" to "Health Care"
   

COCIR is also focusing on ways to optimise use of structural funds for health.

Cohesion policy funding is an important mechanism for EU Member States to improve the quality, accessibility and sustainability of their healthcare systems and reduce health inequalities. Increasing societal challenges and current public expenditure cuts require smart and cost-efficient solutions. Innovative medical technologies can contribute to bridge the quality-cost gap and lead the change towards a more integrated, personalised healthcare. COCIR calls on EU institutions and Member States to further support healthcare investment and the uptake of medical innovation through an effective use of cohesion policy funding by leveraging it to the maximum.

In 2013 COCIR and its members deciced to develop key pilot events in Brussels and in specific Eastern European countries to build awareness on best use of structural funds.