Global economic crisis and health

Oslo, Norway, 1-2 April 2009

The global economic downturn occurs as the world is also confronted with the consequences of major demographic changes and global environmental and energy problems. The crisis therefore represents a major threat for both health and health and social protection systems.

Link to recordings: http://www.smartcom.no/who/who_eng_001.html

Links to materials, conference programme and the webcast can be found at
url: http://www.euro.who.int/healthsystems/econcrisis/20090316_1

Objectives:

- to review the situation in the WHO European Region by identifying the main risks for health and health systems and the main opportunities for action;
- to discuss policy options for responding to the negative impacts of the economic crisis on health systems and
health outcomes in low-, middle- and high-income Member States in the European Region;
- to identify health- and health systems- related measures that could be used in the short and medium terms
to counter the economic downturn and, in the longer term, to help address (some) structural issues confronting our societies.

PROVISIONAL PROGRAMME

Wednesday, 1 April 2009

13:00 – 13:15 Welcome and opening
Objectives and scope of the meeting
Mr Bjarne Håkon Hanssen, Minister of Health and Care Services
Dr Marc Danzon, WHO Regional Director for Europe
Message from the WHO Director-general Dr Margaret Chan

Session 1: Impact of the economic downturn on health systems and health outcomes in the Member States in the WHO European Region
The ongoing financial and economic crisis: main effects on society and on health systems
Chair: Dr Marc Danzon, WHO Regional Director for Europe
Opening speech by Mr Jonas Gahr Støre, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Norway
Keynote speakers:
Prof Alan Maynard, Professor of Health Economics, University of York
Prof Guillem López-Casasnovas, Professor in Economics at Universitat Pompeu Fabra
and Member of the Board of the Bank of Spain
Prof Tomica Milosavljevic, Minister of Health of Serbia

Chair: Dr Bjørn-Inge Larsen, Director-General, Norwegian Directorate of Health
Keynote speaker:
Prof Sir Michael Marmot, Director, International Institute for Society and Health and MRC
Research Professor, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College
London, United Kingdom

Thursday, 2 April 2009

Session 2: Strengthening health and health systems in the context of the crisis
The Millennium Development Goals in the light of the ongoing economic crisis
Message from Mr Jens Stoltenberg, Prime Minister of Norway
Financial and human resource aspects of the crisis; effects on the migration of health personnel
Chair: Prof Elias Mossialos, Director, LSE Health, London School of Economics and Political Science, United Kingdom

Keynote speakers:
Mr Philippe Douste-Blazy, Chair of the Executive Board of UNITAID
Mrs Mary Robinson, President, Realizing Rights: the Ethical Globalization Initiative and Co-chair, Health Workers Global Policy Advisory Council
09:50-10:30 Panel with representatives of Member States
10:30-11:00 Debate and conclusions moderated by Prof Elias Mossialos
11:30-11:50 Protecting public health through strengthened health systems in the European Region
Chair: Dr Bjørn-Inge Larsen, Director-General, Norwegian Directorate of Health

Keynote speaker:
Prof Martin McKee, Research Director, European Centre on Health of Societies in
Transition, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom

Session 3: Strategies to overcome health consequences of crisis
14:15-14:35 Chair: Dr Nata Menabde, Deputy Regional Director, WHO Regional Office for Europe

Keynote speaker:
Mr Bjarne Håkon Hanssen, Minister of Health and Care Services
14:35-15:20 Panel with partners’ representatives
15:20-16:00 Recommendations of the meeting. Final remarks and closure
Dr Bjørn-Inge Larsen, Director-General, Norwegian Directorate of Health
Dr Marc Danzon, WHO Regional Director for Europe