The WHO Barcelona Office for Health Systems Financing is hosting a 2-day meeting in Barcelona in June to discuss the preliminary findings and policy implications of a new report on financial protection in the WHO European Region. The forum aims to raise awareness of trends, set the agenda for change and foster policy action on affordable access to health care.
Drawing on evidence, analysis and good practice, 100 national and international health financing policy experts and officials from 40 countries will explore key issues around coverage policy – the way in which health coverage is designed and implemented.
Plenary sessions will focus on the following themes:
- Addiction to a bad idea: basing entitlement to health care on payment of contributions
- There is no escape from rationing: how do countries deal with trade-offs in access to health care?
- Why do so many countries have user charges, despite the evidence?
- Can people afford to pay for medicines?
- Can countries afford financial protection?
Each session will highlight what needs to change and why, challenge conventional thinking and share insights from policy changes that have helped countries progress towards universal health coverage (UHC).
The forum will also feature:
- the launch of the beta version of “UHC Watch” – the first online platform dedicated to monitoring financial hardship, unmet need, spending on health and coverage policy across the whole of the European Region;
- the launch of a new report on financial protection in Ukraine;
- spotlights on financial protection in Belgium, Spain and the western Balkans.
Attendance in person is by invitation only, but plenary sessions will be streamed live for anyone interested in learning more about how to make health care affordable for everyone in the European Region.