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Supporting health systems in Europe: added value of EU actions?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 August 2013

Timo Clemens ,
Kai Michelsen  and
Helmut Brand
Timo Clemens*
Affiliation:
Department of International Health, CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary Care, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
Kai Michelsen
Affiliation:
Department of International Health, CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary Care, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
Helmut Brand
Affiliation:
Department of International Health, CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary Care, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
*
*Correspondence to: Timo Clemens, Department of International Health, CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary Care, Maastricht University, Duboisdomein 30, NL-6229 GT Maastricht, The Netherlands. Email: timo.clemens@maastrichtuniversity.nl
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Abstract

Since the start of the economic crisis, the European Union's (EU's) predominant discourse has been austerity and fiscal consolidation. The detrimental effects on Europe's health systems and the health status of its citizens are well described. However, little is known about the emerging EU-level initiatives to support national health systems handle the challenges of efficient care provision and system reorganisation aimed to meet their future needs. This review analyses the manner, conditions and prospects of such EU support. First, health system objectives are increasingly entering the EU health policy agenda. Second, professional and patient mobility provisions may support member states (MS) in copying with crisis related health challenges but can potentially acerbate them at the same time. Third, in recent initiatives health system goals are more closely tied to the EU's economic growth narrative. And fourth, health system issues are taken up in existing EU-level structures for debate and exchange between MS. In addition, the design of some policies may have the potential to intensify socioeconomic and health inequalities rather than ameliorate them.

Type
Articles
Information
Health Economics, Policy and Law , Volume 9 , Issue 1 , January 2014 , pp. 49 - 69
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013 

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