About: European Health Forum Gastein

Investment in digital health and access to drugs at the core of Austrian Presidency

Austria’s EU Presidency will focus on “strong” investment in digital health as well as on regulatory issues when it comes to access to medicines, Dr Clemens Martin Auer told EURACTIV.com in an interview. Dr Clemens Martin Auer is the president of the...

Andriukaitis: Supporting drug innovation is ‘the only way’

Backing innovation in the pharmaceutical market and developing new evidence-based economic models is the only way forward for future healthcare, according to EU Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Vytenis Andriukaitis.

Pharma boss: Targeting drugs won’t make healthcare systems more sustainable

“Salami-slicing” the cost of medicines, which represent almost one-fifth of health system budgets and are subject to rigorous value assessments, won’t make healthcare systems more sustainable in the future, Nathalie Moll told EURACTIV.com in an interview.

Gastein boss: Drugs access is ‘sensitive’ and cannot be viewed in isolation

Accessibility of medicines is a sensitive issue that must not be examined in isolation. Policymakers, academics, business and patients must be part of the discussion as well as “innovation” because access would not get the focus it needs without it, according to Dorli Kahr-Gottlieb.

EU urged to include health in all policies

SPECIAL REPORT / The European Commission is required by the EU treaty to follow a "health in all policies" approach, but this principle is often put aside due to inconsistency of single market rules, according to health advocates.

After Ebola, global health experts say crisis is the new normal

SPECIAL REPORT / After nearly a decade of economic crisis, an Ebola epidemic in West Africa, and a refugee crisis, experts say that EU health systems must get used to the fact that "shockwaves" are here to stay.

Health forum looks for better ways to treat patients with multimorbidities

SPECIAL REPORT / A growing number of Europeans are diagnosed with multimorbidities, or co-occurring diseases. As caring for patients with multimorbidities is resource-intensive and expensive, experts are looking into new types of treatment.  

WHO calls on private sector to finance costs of chronic diseases

SPECIAL REPORT / As the economic burden of chronic diseases continues to grow in Europe, the private sector - including pharmaceutical and insurance companies - needs to contribute more, says the World Health Organisation (WHO).  

Health forum discusses emerging ‘threats and opportunities’

SPECIAL REPORT / From budget austerity to the Ebola crisis, and the ongoing refugee crisis, policymakers at this year’s European Health Forum Gastein (EHFG) in Austria have no lack of challenges to tackle.

Well-performing health systems make Europe ‘politically stable’

SPECIAL REPORT: Improving health system performance has been on the political agenda in all member states over the past couple of years. This is crucial, because health systems are at the heart of the EU's social model, the Commission says.

The Internet is causing more problems for health literacy

SPECIAL REPORT: While policymakers, doctors and other health campaigners want to educate the public to take care of its health, the Internet is making the task ever more difficult. 

EU punching below its weight on global health issues

SPECIAL REPORT: The Ebola crisis and immunisation campaigns in Africa have demonstrated the EU's added value in addressing global health issues. But there is still potential to improve if EU countries were less "suspicious" of each other, health experts say.

Four ‘holy grail’ objectives for future public health

SPECIAL REPORT: Many EU governments have made deep cuts to healthcare spending during the financial crisis. But changing demographics mean drastic change is around the corner, with four challenging objectives.

Health community debates impact of EU elections

SPECIAL REPORT: Policymakers, health organisations and industry will be discussing what the EU election year means for public health at the 17th annual European Health Forum Gastein (EHFG) in Austria, which kicks off today (1 October).

Forum calls for a ‘shock-proofed’ EU healthcare system

SPECIAL REPORT / Europe’s healthcare systems are in urgent need of “shock-proofing” if they are to meet the challenges posed by severe budget pressures, policymakers will be told this week at the 16th annual Gastein Health Forum in Austria.

Austerity hikes suicides, but opens door to healthcare innovation

SPECIAL REPORT / Austerity is leading to an increase in mental illness and suicide rate in crisis-hit countries but also offers Europe the chance to embrace radical health innovations, experts at the Gastein forum heard.

Europe fears new epidemics, cost of vaccines

SPECIAL REPORT / Measles and rubella are “raging” throughout Europe and public fears fuelled by internet-driven campaigns and lack of funding are worsening the situation, delegates at the Gastein Health Forum were told.

Mistrust puts pharmaceutical industry in the spotlight

SPECIAL REPORT / The European healthcare system is struggling to cope with low levels of transparency and trust in the pharmaceutical sector, according to 97% of doctors, industry professionals and policymakers attending a workshop at the Gastein Health Forum yesterday (4 October).

Forum calls for fewer specialists, more targeted treatments

SPECIAL REPORT / Europe needs fewer specialised doctors and more drugs and treatments to target personal ailments with pinpoint accuracy, policymakers at the Gastein Health Forum heard yesterday (3 October).

EU health forum hears alarm bells over budget cuts, inefficiencies

SPECIAL REPORT / Europe’s healthcare systems need to reform to avoid being crushed by vanishing resources, corruption and structural deficiencies, policymakers convening in Austria for the Gastein Health Forum will be told today (3 October).