EHC Round Table - 9 December 2009
Patient mobility: a solution for Haemophilia? 'Who/What should travel? Patients, clinicians, expertise and information on state of the art care"
The 8th EHC Round Table took place on 9 December 2009 in Brussels and focused on the patient mobility in cross border healthcare.
Over 30 participants representing clinicians, patients, the industry as well as decision makers from the Commission, Council of the EU and the European Parliament gathered in Brussels to address the different issues surrounding the topic of patient mobility. Special attention was paid to defining and assessing the criteria required to ensure access to best practice and on whether mobility of patients suffering from haemophilia can secure best possible treatment, or if other options are preferable.
The recent defeat of the proposed Directive on Patients Rights in Cross-border Healthcare dominated the debate and participants could not hide their disappointment over the Council‟s failure to reach a consensus among the Member States. It was agreed that fears over the economic consequences of the Directive clouded the clear need for the improved rights of patients.
Participants agreed that in the case of haemophilia patients, mobility of expertise should be privileged. They also agreed on the need to promote the development of sustainable centres of excellence, which plays a key role in improving the quality of treatment of patients with rare disease. Finally, there is a broad consensus on the need to harmonise safety standards for patients travelling across Europe.
Echoing the Round Table exchange, the EHC calls for:
Enhanced “knowledge” mobility and use of new technologies to fill information gaps and thus reduce disparities of care across Europe
United European standards to secure patient safety in cross-border and home healthcare
Implementation of a concept of a comprehensive haemophilia care in each European country
A trustful dialogue between experts and data sharing to increase cooperation between already existing Centers of Expertise in the field of Haemophilia
All the presentations and meeting materials are available below:
For further information please contact the EHC EU representation office: email: info@ehc.eu.
