Developments within the EU policy framework and its priorities

The first of these relates to changing emphasis and policy orientation emerging from the EU Lisbon evaluation and the publication of the EU strategic document “Europe 2020” early in 2010. The headlines of “2020” set the tone:

“Smart, Sustainable and Inclusive Growth - Where do we want Europe to be in 2020?  Three priorities should be the heart of Europe 2020:

1. Smart growth – developing an economy based on knowledge and innovation.
2. Sustainable growth – promoting a more resource efficient, greener and more competitive economy.
3. Inclusive growth – fostering a high-employment economy delivering economic, social and territorial cohesion.”

The emphasis on major policy areas, relevant to the health sector, remains undiminished; reducing health inequities; meeting the needs of an ageing population; continuing to Improve patient safety and quality, including cross border collaboration and planning for health emergencies; applying SF investment to stimulate growth in employment and the economy; re-focusing R&D and innovation policy on the challenges facing society, such as health and demographic change, including climate change, energy and resource efficiency (all of which are deeply embedded within the health sector).

Two further policy areas have also been profiled with greater clarity:

1. The carbon agenda. The EU has set higher targets for carbon saving; a 20% reduction (based on 1990 levels) by 2020. Initial investment to move towards meeting this target is likely to prove capital intensive - and will increase capital project costs (at least until new knowledge is diffused across Europe). Policy initiatives within the health sector are underdeveloped in this field and have yet to figure in the ‘health SF agenda.
2. Public private partnerships a reviewed focus - A renewed focus on PPP as a way of stimulating innovation and improvement in public (including health) services.  Applying PPP principles to the health sector is however complex and difficult. Whilst there is evidence of success there have also been conspicuous failures. It may be tempting to see PPP as offering an alternative source of capital funding to ease future pressure on SF but knowledge and competency in this commercially sensitive field is sparse. Furthermore future adoption of PPP strategies is being hit hard by the credit crisis.

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