The European added value of health system cooperation to ensure access to innovative medicines and technologies

Abstract

Between January and June 2017, Malta held the Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU). One of its thematic priorities was Structured Cooperation between health systems. Evidence for strengthened cooperation in the areas of procurement of health technologies and delivery of highly specialised services was presented and discussed in a series of meetings. Council Conclusions were elaborated and an ambitious cooperation declaration between Southern European countries in the area of access to innovative medicines was signed. This article describes the rationale for these linked activities as a means to support European health systems in addressing critical challenges that cannot be tackled by Member States acting alone. These cooperation initiatives are important in the light of the evolving debate on the Future of Europe and the role that health policy should play in the European Union post 2020. Malta, as a small Member State with an open market, is often exposed earlier and more harshly to the impacts of market and environmental changes on its health system. It can therefore play an important role in scanning the horizon for potential impacts and proposing appropriate policy responses at European level.