Observatory Venice Summer School 2011
The Ageing Crisis: A Health Systems Response
(San Servolo, Venice, 24–30 July 2011)
Objectives
To bring together high and mid-level policy-makers in a stimulating environment to focus on ageing and what it means for health systems. Summer School draws on the latest evidence, a team of experts, the experiences of participants in practice and a tradition of promoting evidence-based policy-making and fostering European health policy debate. It aims to raise key issues, share learning and insights and build lasting networks.
Approach
The six day course combines a core of formal teaching with a highly participative approach involving participant presentations, round tables, panel discussions and group work. There will be opportunities for participants to develop a concrete case study that cuts across themes and to engage in political dialogue at the opening session.
Accreditation
Summer School is accredited by the European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education and participation counts towards ongoing professional development in all EU Member States.
Organization
Summer School is organized by the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies and the Veneto Region of Italy, one of its partners.
Recent Summer Schools
Recent Summer Schools have focused on Human Resources for Health (2007), Hospital Re-engineering (2008) and Health Technology Assessment (2009), EU Integration and Health Systems (2010).
The Ageing Crisis: A Health Systems Response
Summer School 2011 will focus on the implications of population ageing for health policy and the ways health systems can provide solutions to the challenges of an ageing society. The course will present a multifaceted picture of the ageing effect on health systems and policies, looking at the evolving life expectancy and morbidity ratios, changing needs, the implications for financing and the interface between different types of care; taking into account variations across Europe and inequalities between and within countries. A particular focus will also be the potential of health promotion and prevention to maintain people’s health and self-reliance as well as the use of technology and innovative models of integrated care to better assist older people living with chronic conditions.
The Summer School will address the topic of ageing from a policy-makers’ perspective, outlining models for developing an integrated policy that can meet all these challenges, providing practical examples and tools but also taking into account the constraints and pressures that policy-makers have to face. Crucially, the course will draw on the participants’ experience and sharing of knowledge and insights and will build contacts and networks and to provide resources for future work. An important contribution to the Summer School will also be the approach taken on this issue at European and international level, including by the World Health Organization and the European Union.
Faculty
The Summer School will involve a group of expert lecturers and facilitators led by:
- Reinhard Busse (European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies and Berlin University of Technology) as Director and his Co-Directors;
- Emily Grundy (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine) and
- Nick Fahy (Nick Fahy Consulting Ltd).
The WHO focal point will be Manfred Huber (WHO Regional Office for Europe).
Applicants/participants
Summer School is intended for senior to mid-level policy-makers and more junior professionals who are making careers in policy and management at a regional, national or European level. This year we are specifically targeting:
- National and regional health policy-makers and their advisers who wish to upgrade their knowledge and understanding of the likely impact of ageing on health systems;and
- Professionals working in the health sector whose responsibilities or areas of work address promoting healthy ageing at a policy level, supporting economic or social integration for older people, revising and integrating provision to ensure coherent care, exploiting technology appropriately or financing; or other initiatives to tailor the health system to these challenges .
Participants should be working in a decision-making institution (government, nongovernmental, European, provider or payer association, or professional body) with a remit that includes supporting healthy ageing or shaping health systems responses to ageing. This will cover ministries, national agencies, health institutes, EU institutions, insurance boards, hospitals, management boards and others.
Applications are welcome from all 53 WHO European Region Member States and the programme will be tailored, so far as is possible, to the mix of participants.
Get-togethers and social programme
Participants will spend the week on the island and therefore will have many occasions for networking and informal exchange. Various events will be organized during the week to enjoy each others’ company and the magnificent setting of Venice. Besides the opening of the Summer School and welcome reception, a visit is planned to the WHO Office in Venice as well as an excursion to a villa.
Preparation
- The course involves only limited preparation;
- All materials are made available through the the web site of the Summer School.
About the Organizers
The European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies supports and promotes evidence-based health policy-making through the comprehensive and rigorous analysis of the dynamics of health care systems in Europe and beyond. It is a partnership that includes national governments and other authorities (Belgium, Finland, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden, the Veneto Region, the French Union of Health Insurance Funds), international organizations (the WHO Regional Office for Europe, European Commission, European Investment Bank and World Bank) and academia (London School of Economics and Political Science, and London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine).
The Veneto Region seeks to ensure that empirical evidence and analysis reaches national and regional stakeholders and policy-makers. It is involved in comparing health care systems across EU Member States. The Veneto Region is active in the area of cross-border health care and plays a leading role in the EU in research and policy development. It is also actively involved in a number of networks, including EUREGHA, ERRIN, EuroHealthnet, WHO RHN, AER, HealthClusterNet, ESN, ENSA and ELISAN. The Veneto Region, which has been a partner of the European Observatory since 2004, is hosting the Summer School because it is committed to providing a European platform for political debate on health matters, linking regional authorities to the EU debate.
How to apply
Please request an application form and/or send any questions regarding the Summer School at the following link: summerschool2011@obs.euro.who.int
