F4 FORUM
Organised by DG International Cooperation and Development (DG DEVCO), European Commission
2015 is a special year for development as the first ever European Year to focus on the European Union's external action and Europe's role in the world. This year is a landmark year for international aid and development cooperation as the UN Millennium Development Goals come to their conclusion. Based on these, the world will come together to agree on a new course of action and post-2015 development agenda. The EU actively works to strengthen countries' overall healthcare systems and promote research and development in healthcare.
Health is a right for all. It is the foundation for inclusive economic growth and development and is intrinsically linked to a wide range of development issues. EU assistance provides comprehensive health sector support and helps countries achieve universal health coverage, focusing on reducing child mortality, improving maternal health and combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases. The EU aims to strengthen national health systems – a crucial element as illustrated by the Ebola outbreak – in developing countries, in a coordinated, comprehensive way so that basic health services are available to those in need, including the most vulnerable and marginalised parts of the population.
In 2011, the EU confirmed its commitment to health, announcing that at least 20% of its 2014–2020 aid budget would be allocated to support human development and social inclusion, including health.
This session is an opportunity to build awareness of the benefits of the EU's development cooperation in the health field and take a look at the issues and challenges at hand.
Introduction
Kevin McCarthy, DG International Cooperation and Development (DG DEVCO), European Commission
A European Union for health. Seizing the opportunities for global health
Ilona Kickbusch, Director, Global Health Programme, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Switzerland
Investing in health systems. Bangladesh case study
Taskin Rahman, Advocacy and Every One Campaign Manager, Save the Children, Bangladesh
Five facets in less than ten minutes
Frazer Goodwin, Senior Advocacy Adviser, Save the Children EU Office, Belgium
UHC & The Right to Health: buoyed or drowning in sustainable development?
Remco van de Pas, Researcher, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
Healthcare user' experienceas a focus for unlocking opportunities to access quality health services
Pat Mayers, Associate Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Republic of South Africa
International collaboration in research, policy and public health practice for improved community access to health
Johannes Sommerfeld, Scientist Research Manager, WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases
EU, WHO/TDR and Uganda international research collaboration to improved community access to health
Jesca Nsungwa-Sabiiti, Head of Child Health, Integrated Management of Childhood Illness, Ministry of Health, Uganda
The use of evidence in supporting policy: A case study for policy improvement to reduce alcohol consumption in Lao PDR
Daovieng Douangvichit, Deputy Head of Research Outcome and Management Division, National Institute of Public Health, Ministry of Health, Laos
Strengthening public health capacity to respond to Myanmar’s disease transition
Aye Mya Aung, Lecturer, Nutrition and Food Safety Department, University of Public Health, Yangon, Myanmar
Health systems analysis for health systems strengthening: Observatories in Europe and Africa
Wilm Quentin, Research Fellow, WHO Collaborating Centre for Health Systems Research and Management Berlin University of Technology | Young Forum Gastein Scholar
Moderation
Maggie Davies, Director, Health Action Partnership International (HAPI)