WE CARE

Duration: September 2013 - August 2015 (24 months) | Status: running non EPF-Led Project | Funding Programme: Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP7)

Towards a Sustainable and Affordable Healthcare

What is the project about?

WE-CARE coordinates the development of a R&D Roadmap to deliver high-quality, affordable Healthcare to all EU‐citizens.  The R&D Roadmap focuses on pathways to respond to the urgent need to keep EU countries’ healthcare budgets under control while guaranteeing a maintained or even improved quality of care for all EU citizens. The assumption is that an effective response to growing healthcare budgets, does not come from simple cuts, but from important investments on both health research and innovation (both technical, methodological and institutional).

Project‘s Objectives

Through a multidisciplinary approach  that includes financial, technical, economic cultural and ethicval aspects, WE-CARE aims at involving all relevant EU key players to identify workable solutions to contribute significantly towards an sustainable and affordable healthcare.

Expected outcomes

WE –CARE mainly  expects to:

• Identify the gaps in the present EU-R&D research program;
• Create an inventory of studies to feed  the proposed Strategic plan and R&D Roadmap;
• Evaluate the potential of a European Innovation Partnership (EIP)

Consortium

• University of Gothenburg
• Stichting VU-VUmc
• IMEC
• IBM Israel
• Imperial College
• European Patients’ Forum
• Berlin University of Technology

EPF‘s role

EPF is involved as associate partner and plays a core advisory role in every aspect of the project to ensure a strong and strategic patient perspective.  EPF contributes to the overall discussions and development of the new Strategic plan and the R&D roadmap and monitors the proceedings with regard to quality, affordability and accessibility aspects.

Impact on patient community

The WE-CARE projects intends to identify solutions to guarantee quality and affordable healthcare for all EU patients, by applying  innovate solutions and high-level health research to healthcare systems.

More information on the project's website: www.we-do-care.eu.