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Health
Health First
Europe
The creation
of a new alliance - Health First Europe – was
announced on 17th March 2004 by organisations representing patients,
healthcare workers, academics,
experts and the medical technology industry.
Health First
Europe will launch an awareness campaign in 2004 to encourage reflection
and dialogue on the future of healthcare in Europe at a time of
demographic and technological revolution. The primary aim of the
new alliance will be to ensure that equitable access to modern,
innovative and reliable medical technology and healthcare is regarded
as a vital investment in the future of Europe.
Health First
Europe calls for a truly patient-centred healthcare where every
European citizen is able to benefit from the best medical treatments
available. In addition, alliance members believe that health should
also be seen as a productive economic factor in terms of employment,
innovation and economic growth.
John Bowis, one of the European Parliament supporters of Health
First Europe, said: “The set-up of Health First Europe comes
at a time when both patients, the medical profession and industry
as well as relevant authorities must look at how Europe will maintain
the healthcare provisions that citizens have come to expect. For
example, the greying of the European population and the rapid progression
of medical innovation pose a number of important challenges and
opportunities today. In order to meet these challenges, a rethink
of European healthcare
systems is required".
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