Tue. 03
December
2024
Welcoming Words
High-Level Opening Keynote
Health is Wealth: Navigating the Interconnectedness of Economy and Well-being
In today’s complex and rapidly changing landscape, the correlation of health and economy has never been more pronounced. While increased national wealth is associated with improved health outcomes, health is further seen as an important determinant of economic performance and competitiveness. In essence, the link between the two factors underscores the imperative of adopting holistic policies that prioritises both aspects concurrently. Investing in healthcare infrastructure, promoting preventive measures, and ensuring equitable access to healthcare services do not only impact public health outcomes, but are also instrumental in driving sustainable economic growth and enhancing European and global competitiveness.
Innovate, Compete, Thrive: Europe's Path to Strategic Healthcare Autonomy
Over the past 5 years, the EU has laid the foundations for healthcare transformation through a variety of initiatives, highlighting the need to grow the competitiveness of Europe to attract investments in pharmaceutical and biotechnological research and innovation. Despite these strides, challenging market conditions and fragmented policy ecosystems do not only limit European patients’ equitable access to medicines and treatments, but also pose a peril to the continent’s industrial strategic autonomy and competitiveness. To ensure that future medicines are discovered and developed within the region, it is clear that the EU needs a forward-looking vision and an industrial framework that fosters long-term sustainable healthcare systems and enhances sector competitiveness. Hence, among a diverse array of stakeholders, prioritising initiatives that enhance patient outcomes, boost the global competitiveness of the pharmaceutical sector, and ensure the attractiveness of the EU have emerged as an essential priority.
Coffee Break
Shaping Resilient Health Systems: Pathways to Sustainable Healthcare Finance in Europe
European health systems are at a pivotal moment, facing an aging population, increasing chronic disease prevalence, staff shortages, climate change, and economic pressures. Financial sustainability is a central pillar, enabling health systems to remain robust in the face of these systemic challenges. By adopting a comprehensive strategy to health funding in the next budget cycle, Europe can sustain essential healthcare services and foster a climate of innovation and economic growth. Strategic investment in health is not just about better outcomes, but about securing the economic and social foundations for the future. Through public-private collaboration, we can create a sustainable financial framework that supports resilient and forward-looking health systems.
Reimagining Healthcare Systems: The Critical Role of Self-Care in Prevention and Wellbeing
In the healthcare community, there’s a growing recognition of the vital role self-care plays in enhancing the efficiency, quality, and sustainability of healthcare systems. As healthcare costs rise and challenges such as workforce shortages and resource limitations persist, the importance of self-care, including the use of non-prescription medicines, has never been more apparent. Pharmacists are at the forefront, ensuring safe and effective medication management. Empowering citizens to actively engage in their health and well-being is essential. By integrating self-care into comprehensive healthcare plans, we can achieve remarkable economic and social benefits. This approach not only improves accessibility and affordability but also enhances quality of life and productivity, leading to substantial cost savings. This is a pivotal moment to advance Europe’s healthcare system toward sustainability, ensuring a future where individuals are empowered to take charge of their health and well-being.
Networking and VIP Lunch
Innovating for All: Ensuring Equitable Healthcare Access in the EU
While innovation is the driving force for European competitiveness, competition is intensifying for global investments. For instance, the European Union’s commitment to research and technology is pushing forward pharmaceutical and biotechnological progress, forcing the need to enhance decision- making processes and foster knowledge production. However, in the context of IP protection, the alarm is being raised on the way the current legislation is formulated, as it could become a hurdle rather than a catalyst for innovation. Further, ensuring equitable access to medicines remains a central concern, enhancing continuous dialogue to address accessibility challenges and the intricacies of pricing and reimbursement mechanisms within healthcare systems in each Member State. It becomes evident that Europe must cultivate optimal conditions to foster competitiveness and a healthcare environment that promotes innovation, by introducing a regulatory system that is robust and adaptable to a fast-paced rhythm.
Fire-side chat with Emer Cooke, Executive Director at the EMA
Unlocking the Future of European Biotech: from Inception to Global Champions
The European biotech sector is a powerhouse of scientific innovation, as demonstrated by its pivotal role in developing and producing Covid-19 vaccines. Europe is well-positioned to lead the way in translating scientific discoveries into groundbreaking advancements, cutting-edge manufacturing, and the widespread adoption of innovative treatments. By harnessing the full potential of its biotech ecosystem, Europe can further strengthen its position on the global stage and close the gap with other leading regions through a more coordinated EU-level strategy.
Coffee Break
Beyond the Invisible: Building Europe’s Mental Health Resilience
The prevalence of mental health issues, including burnout, anxiety, and depression, has escalated across Europe, affecting diverse population groups and placing a strain on health systems. Mental health conditions now represent a major public health concern, with 46% Europeans experiencing a mental health issue according to the Eurobarometer (2023). The EU has recognised this urgency, yet the ability to respond to and meet those needs in mental health care varies widely, particularly for vulnerable or isolated communities who face significant barriers to obtaining necessary support. Unlike physical ailments, mental health conditions are often invisible, making it difficult for some to perceive the gravity of the issue. This invisibility fuels societal misconceptions and contributes to the ongoing neglect of mental health in policy discussions. For the EU to make meaningful progress, mental health must move higher on the public health agenda creating a responsive, inclusive mental health infrastructure.
Shaping the Future of Health: A National Perspective on the European Health Union
As we embark on a new legislative cycle, it is crucial to reflect on our past achievements and anticipate the challenges ahead. The coordinated pandemic response, the establishment of the EU4Health program, the creation of DG HERA, and the advancements in digital health initiatives have set the EU on a promising path. However, looking ahead, it is imperative to ensure strong political will to establish a European Health Union that ensures equitable access across Member States and strengthened health systems, presenting a unified voice in times of global health crises. In this new legislative cycle, we must strive to maximise the impact of our efforts, aiming to create a healthier, more equitable and innovative Europe for all citizens.
Closing Statements and Cocktail Reception
Wed. 04
December
2024
High-level opening keynote
From Conclusions to Action: Why Europe Needs a Comprehensive EU Action Plan to Address the Growing Burden of Cardio, Renal, and Metabolic Diseases
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) constitute an enormous health, societal, and financial burden in Europe, representing around 80% of overall healthcare spending and leading to the pre-mature deaths of over 500,000 people of working-age in the EU every year. Often overlooked is how many of these conditions are interrelated, particularly in the field of cardio, renal, and metabolic (CRM) conditions. For example, there is a strong association between obesity, diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and chronic kidney disease. The causes of these diseases are overlapping and often result in the progressive worsening of several debilitating conditions. They are interconnected, co-exist, progress, and amplify one another, placing a substantial, rising burden on EU healthcare systems, economies, and society. Therefore, to reverse the ever-increasing burden of these interconnected conditions, a shift in mindset is required towards a more holistic approach to effective NCD prevention strategies.
A Wake-Up Call: Tackling Hidden Factors in Non-Communicable Diseases
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and mental health disorders remain some of the most pressing challenges in global health, intricately linked to the quality of care provided by healthcare systems. Often overlooked, sleep disorders are now acknowledged as critical contributors to the development and progression of these diseases. Addressing these underlying factors opens new opportunities for prevention, improved patient outcomes as well as setting the foundation for healthy ageing. A key part of the solution lies in integrating digital health technologies and data-driven strategies, which can enhance the management of these conditions by both healthcare providers and healthcare systems. As the EU intensifies efforts to combat cardiovascular disease and mental health issues, there is a timely opportunity to integrate the importance of sleep health into healthcare policy and provision. This approach can foster a healthier, more resilient society and strengthen healthcare systems.
Coffee Break
Ensuring Patient Access: Securing Medicines Supply Chains for All
Boosting the competitiveness of the European life sciences sector and securing supply chain resilience stand as crucial goals within the European Union’s agenda. These objectives are essential, not only for driving long-term competitiveness but also for strengthening Europe’s innovative industry footprint. Moreover, maintaining Europe as an attractive region for investment is crucial for fostering ongoing medical advancements. Scientific advancements and continuous innovation are needed, as today’s innovations become the generics and biosimilars of tomorrow. Currently, Europe is experiencing significant shortages of medicines, which are profoundly impacting patients and healthcare systems. This situation underscores the importance of Europe's focus on strategic autonomy to ensure secure and resilient supply chains for both innovative and generic medicines. To tackle these challenges, different policy measures have been applied throughout the life cycle of medicines. Looking ahead, the newly created EU Critical Medicines Alliance is a vital channel to develop solutions and collaborate with strategic partner countries to increase the security of supply chains and ensure that patients have timely access to the essential medicines they need.
Europe’s Critical Need for a Digital Healthcare Strategy
Significant progress has been made toward the digitisation of healthcare, marked by the recent adoption of the European Health Data Space Regulation. However, a comprehensive digital strategy is still lacking to harness the full potential of data and digital technologies in healthcare. Cybersecurity will remain a key focus for Europe’s hospitals, but more effort is needed to encourage the development and uptake of critical technologies, including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and biotechnology. Digital twins, precision medicine, telehealth, and the use of Real-World Data/Evidence also open new and unparalleled opportunities to tackle the most pressing issues faced by health systems and patients. The keynote speech will highlight the urgent need for a unified European vision for digital health—one that accelerates digital transformation, leverages innovative technologies, enhances skills, increases trust in digital healthcare, and establishes a consistent, agile regulatory framework that fosters innovation and ensures accessibility for patients across the EU.
From Legislation to Implementation: Pioneering the Future of Digital Healthcare in Europe
A strong digital environment is not only essential to improve health outcomes and equitable access to care, but also to contribute to a competitive landscape that will drive innovation and ensure strategic autonomy. With the adoption of the European Health Data Space (EHDS) in April 2024, Europe stands at the threshold of a transformative era in healthcare. The regulation has significant potential to improve patient health, strengthen healthcare system resilience, boost innovation and productivity, and solidify Europe’s competitive position as a global life sciences leader. Concurrently, the digitalisation of healthcare will be a fundamental step in reaping the benefits of the Single Market, ensuring a broader range of benefits that contribute to economic growth, consumer welfare, and business efficiency. However, while the EHDS holds many promises, the successful implementation of the regulation will require addressing widespread disparities such as governance structures and technical capabilities. Is Europe ready to bridge the gap between vision and reality to fully realise the potential of healthcare digitalisation?
Networking and VIP Lunch
Building European Tech and Life Science for Future Generations (with the Novo Nordisk Foundation)
Healthcare in Europe should be a central focus of new European policy to enhance citizens’ quality of life. Hosted by the Novo Nordisk Foundation, this session explores how quantum computing and AI can revolutionize life sciences, including drug development, beyond the capabilities of classical computers. Quantum computing promises advancements in medicine, epidemiology, genomics, and neuroscience by solving complex quantum mechanical problems. Researchers are to develop and scale materials and hardware for practical use in the coming years. In parallel, AI will transform life sciences by analysing large data sets, identifying patterns, and making predictions beyond human capabilities, accelerating research and discovery. Effective implementation of quantum and AI strategies in European health care requires advanced infrastructure, governing of data handling, a skilled workforce, collaborative ecosystems, supportive regulations, and substantial funding. Meeting these needs will enable the successful integration of these technologies in the health sector.
MedTech in the Driver’s Seat of Sustainable Innovation
At a time when the European Union has put sustainability as a core pillar of its actions, the MedTech industry is increasingly facing the dual pressures of adapting to stringent environmental regulations and embracing the green transition. While these changes. present challenges, especially given the often-slower timelines of medical device legislation, they also offer significant opportunities through digitalisation. It not only drives breakthroughs that expand healthcare possibilities, improve access, and minimize environmental impact but it could also ensure that the industry remains innovative and resilient in a rapidly evolving global market. This dual focus on innovation and sustainability offers the MedTech sector a unique opportunity to lead in both environmental responsibility and market leadership. How can we ensure the MedTech sector achieves its goals within the green transition without losing ground?
Coffee Break
Beyond Borders: Collaborative Approaches to Combat Climate-Related Health Threats
Climate change, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and air pollution have been characterised by the World Health Organization as one of the most pressing global public health threats. Climate-related shocks, such as floods and extreme temperatures, create a wide array of health impacts, including increased mortality and morbidity rate and altered prevalence of zoonoses, food-, water-, and vector-borne diseases. Global heating of 1.5°C is not considered safe; however, every additional tenth of a degree of warming will seriously impact people’s lives and health. Concurrently, AMR poses a growing global threat, with forecasted increases in rates across OECD and EU/EEA countries in the next three decades. As climate change puts at risk the sustainability of healthcare systems, it is imperative to explore actionable adaptation and mitigation strategies to reduce adverse impacts of climate change on health while promoting equity and resilience.
High-level Keynote on AMR
The EU’s Global Call: Fighting AMR for a Resilient Tomorrow
A comprehensive “One Health” approach is essential to addressing interconnected health challenges, with antimicrobial resistance (AMR) being one of the most urgent. Despite progress reflected in the 2024 UN Political Declaration, current measures fall short of what's needed to combat AMR across human, animal, and environmental health. The new EU legislative term presents a vital opportunity to lead with ambitious actions—enhancing antimicrobial pipelines, improving stewardship, and ensuring broader access to diagnostics and medicines. By fostering public-private partnerships and advancing progress, the EU can secure equitable access to critical treatments, particularly for Low- and Middle- Income Countries, reinforcing both global health resilience and its own strategic autonomy.
Closing Statements and Cocktail Reception