Results of the WE-CARE project
© WE CARE
After two years of research, the WE-CARE project has come to an end. We are proud to share with you the project results on how we could achieve more sustainable and high quality healthcare for all EU‐citizens.
Demographic change, technological innovation, fragmentation of services and financing are some of the drivers behind the increasing costs in the healthcare systems’ budgets in the EU countries. The FP7-funded EU project investigated how research and development (R&D) can contribute to more sustainable and high quality care. In the framework of this two-year project, a strategic plan and a R&D roadmap towards 2035 have been produced with the clear purpose of recommending the way forward to EU and national decision makers.
Through brainstorming, face to face and web consultations, the WE CARE consortium has identified seven main priority areas to be included in the roadmap: person-centred care, prevention, information technology, quality measures, infrastructures, incentive systems and contracting strategies.
In the past, governments tried to deal with the problem of increasing healthcare costs by addressing separately individual aspects (financial, infrastructural, technological etc), without a holistic approach. This resulted in reduced costs in the short-term, while in the longer term they increased.
The main conclusion resulting from the WE CARE analysis is that the seven priority areas should be handled globally as part of a unique strategy. This would allow a coherent and effective implementation of actions aimed at sustainable and high quality healthcare.
EPF contributed throughout the two years to the development of the project, via the involvement of patients’ representatives in the workshops, and final conference as well as via an electronic consultation. A high response rate allowed EPF to produce a robust analysis of what patients rate the most as a priority. There is a high level of consensus among respondents that person-centred care and prevention are undoubtedly considered the most important priority areas.
Contact Valentina Strammiello, Programme Officer at valentina.strammiello@eu-patient.eu