30.G. Round table: Health planning In Europe: preparing for the expected and the unexpected

Abstract

The objective of this round table discussion is to highlight the need for careful and systematic health planning of health systems in Europe, illustrate how health planning can be used for policy and management and provide some useful tools for participants to bring home and apply in their own contexts. Participants will acquire knowledge on current health care planning in some leading international organisations, with examples from some countries and regionHealth in Europe is facing challenges and threats of both immediate and longer term character. In recent years, discussions on health care in the future has focussed on pressures coming from the increase in chronic diseases and demographic changes, such as the growing number of older people. Recently, the covid-19 outbreak has shown that newly emerging diseases can cause massive challenges to public health and health services. Both developments illustrate the need of health systems to be prepared for both expected and unexpected developments and to engage in careful planning of resource needs to ensure good health services to all. This session seeks to present approaches to health planning and discuss with the audience different methods for simulation and analysis of future health care needs and the resulting requirements for financial and human resources. The session will contribute to the development of health services and public health in Europe by highlighting the necessity to establish structures for comprehensive health planning and to seek ways to meet future challenges well in time. The round-table will have four participants, each of them giving an initial brief on some essential elements of health planning: projections of disease burden and health care needs,forecasting of health care costs and funding sources,health workforce needs in relation to disease burden projections, andplanning for unexpected events such as pandemics and climate threatsEach brief will be given a short comment by one of the other participants. After all four briefs, panel members will give general or specific comments on the topic and subsequently, the audience will be invited to provide input and pose questions to the panel members. Based on the presentations given and the information provided in the discussions, a report on the session will be compiled and made available to participants and the wider public electronically.Key messages Health care planning is important for emergency preparedness and long term sustainable delivery of health services.The best available estimates of population health developments and the resulting needs for prevention and health care should be the basis for health services planning.