Contribute to the Consultation on EC's Opinion on Quality of health care and patient safety (Deadline: 15 Sept.)

 

The European Commission has launched a public consultation on the preliminary opinion on the ‘Future EU Agenda on quality of health care with a special emphasis on patient safety’.

Background to the Consultation

In 2013, a high-level group of experts (a sub-group of the European Commission-nominated “Expert Panel on Effective Ways of Investing in Health“) was set up by the Commission.

The task of this group was to draft an opinion on the future EU Agenda on quality of healthcare. The opinion document is available in the right-hand column (PDF). The opinion seeks:

• to outline an EU agenda on patient safety and quality of care
• to identify a subset of commonly accepted dimensions of quality/safety applicable to all health services
• to highlight a subset of indicators potentially suitable to quantify these quality/safety core dimensions.

EPF's Contribution to the Opinion

EPF’s Executive Director, Nicola Bedlington, was invited to participate in the high-level group of experts (“Expert Panel on Effective Ways of Investing in Health“).

Through EPF’s close involvement with this working group, EPF has ensured that the role of patients, and patient empowerment, features prominently in the preliminary draft opinion.

How to submit feedback?

The draft opinion is now submitted to a public consultation.

 

This is an opportunity for all EPF’s members to comment on the preliminary draft and contribute to the shaping of the future EU agenda and quality of care from the patients' perspective – a task of the utmost importance.

• We would encourage you to take time to read this document and send your comments to EPF. Kindly send your feedback to EPF by Monday 15 September (Kaisa, kaisa.immonen.charalambous@eu-patient.eu)
  
• Alternatively, you can submit your feedback directly and electronically: http://ec.europa.eu/health/expert_panel/consultations/quality_of_care_en.htm
  The deadline to submit feedback is 21 September.

Particularly relevant for patients

The following parts of the document are of particular relevance and interest to patients:

• Patient-centredness seen an aspect of quality of care (from page 23)
• Indicators that should be used to measure quality, including indicators to measure patient-centredness (from page 63)
• Proposed actions at EU level, many of which are focused on patients and patient empowerment (from page 68).

In particular, please let us know if you are aware of any indicators used by patient organisations to measure quality of care generally, or patient-centredness specifically.

More information

For more information, you can visit the Commission's website: http://ec.europa.eu/health/expert_panel/consultations/quality_of_care_en.htm