As the EU is facing a number of challenges in the field of health care, the Hungarian Presidency has used its chairmanship period to initiate an EU-wide common thinking process with issues like, increased cooperation, joint research, pool of experts, exchange of information and best practises.
The Norwegian Minister together with her EU colleagues. Fotó: 2011, András Kovács / www.eu2011.hu / MFA.GOV.HU At the informal meeting of the EU ministers for health in Budapest on April 4-5, the overarching theme was "Patient and Professional Pathways in Europe", raising the issue of future health care challenges and collaboration in this area.
Norway is affected by the EU health policy, as Norway participate in the internal marked through the EEA Agreement, and Minister of Health and Care Services, Anne- Grete Strøm-Erichsen attended the meeting.
Health migration as a common challenge
During the two day session, the health ministers assessed how cooperation can contribute to meet future healthcare challenges, as well as how to ensure equality and quality of the health care systems and health professionals.
Shortage and migration of health workers, as well as sustainability of healthcare systems were some of the topics that were highlighted by the ministers, including John Dalli, EU Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy. The Commissioner especially advocated the importance of exchanging information and data, to track professional migration.
EU Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy, John Dalli at the informal ministerial meeting. Fotó: c 2011, András Kovács / www.eu2011.hu / MFA.GOV.HU Collaboration to address shortage challenges
The issue of migration and health workers is a topic that is also relevant in Norway as foreign medical doctors make up over 10 per cent of doctors in Norway. The Norwegian Minister also took time to touch upon this complex issue in her speech.
–Norway acknowledges labour migration and mobility as beneficial to both individuals and societies, but at the same time we recognize that there is a need for international solidarity and a common approach towards creating sustainable workforce with sufficient personnel – within different countries, said Strøm- Erichsen, adding that sharing knowledge and reflections on how to deal with recruitment and retention strategies on a national and an international level could be useful.
After the meeting, the Minister had bilateral meetings with the British Secretary of State, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Public Health, Ann Milton to discuss challenges connected to alcohol, advertisement and tobacco.