P1 OPENING PLENARY SESSION
Organised by International Forum Gastein in cooperation with European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies
When looking to address this year's main theme “Securing health in Europe. Balancing priorities, sharing responsibilities”, it is impossible to ignore the additional intricacy posed to the capacities of European Health Systems by those fleeing their conflict-torn home countries.
With the increasing number of migrants from Africa and the Middle East seeking refuge in Europe by embarking on a desperate and perilous journey across the Mediterranean Sea, Europe is challenged to respond with concerted efforts and solutions. The governments of Mediterranean countries have called to Europe and other member states for help in sharing the responsibility and devising joint plans – from Mare Nostrum to Mare Europaeum.
The security and resilience of European health systems and the strong value of solidarity are put to the test in the light of this humanitarian crisis. How can we secure Universal Health Coverage, how can we assure equitable access for all to our well-functioning health systems? Following Amnesty International’s pledge, Europe is demanded to “put people before borders”.
UNHCR – the UN perspective (video message)
Volker Türk, Assistant High Commissioner for Protection, UNHCR
Keynote
Meinie Nicolai, President, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), Operational Centre Brussels, Belgium
Panel discussion
Sabine Oberhauser, Federal Minister of Health, Austria
Christopher Fearne MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Health, Malta
Martin Seychell, Deputy Director-General, DG Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE), European Commission
Santino Severoni, Coordinator Public Health and Migration, WHO Regional Office for Europe
Meinie Nicolai, President, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), Operational Centre Brussels, Belgium
Constantinos Manolopoulos, Interim Director, European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA)
Martin McKee, Professor, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Helmut Brand, President, International Forum Gastein
Newsroom team
Willy Palm, Dissemination Development Officer, European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies
Claudia Maier, University of Pennsylvania, Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research, USA
Floris Oudshoorn, Conference Cartoonist, ComicHouse
Moderation
Josep Figueras, Director, European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies