Milestones in Communication
Contact:
Mag. Marion Velik
Phone: +43 1 890 04 29-0
E-Mail: marion.velik@minc.at

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Bad Hofgastein/Salzburg/Austria (pts016/08.07.2015/12:30) - This year, the European Health Forum Gastein (EHFG) is devoted to securing health and the European health systems. For the 18th time, well-known experts from politics and science as well as health experts and opinion leaders from Europe and overseas are meeting up to discuss the present and future of "Health in Europe".

The European Health Forum Gastein (EHFG) is being held in Bad Hofgastein for the 18th time this year. This year, the EHFG is devoted to the main topic of "Securing health in Europe". More than 600 participants from all over Europe and beyond are expected. The event will offer presentations and workshops by and with high-ranking EU policy makers, international scientists, leading health specialists and representatives from the NGO and industry sectors. The President of the International Forum Gastein (IFG), Prof. Helmut Brand (University of Maastricht): "Securing the health of Europeans and strengthening existing European health systems is a challenge. Current events such as the flow of migrants across the Mediterranean are putting European health policy to the test."

Balancing priorities, sharing responsibilities

IFG President Prof. Brand: "This year, the EHFG is again working on answering the all-embracing question of how the health of all European citizens can be secured and of course also improved." The EHFG will address the topic in depth with the opening plenary debate being devoted to the challenging integration of migrants in European health systems.

Further topics will be, among others:
- Health in all policies at the highest European level
- Dealing with chronic diseases
- Access to and pricing of new medicines in Europe
- Facing multimorbidity
- Are we prepared in the EU to respond to the next public health emergency in light of the recent Ebola outbreak in West Africa?
- Health, safety and well-being throughout the working life cycle
- The power of data (How can technology support science in researching health behaviours?)
- New paths to personalised medicine
- Comprehensive primary care (success stories: from model to implementation)

The high-ranking speakers and panel participants at this year's EHFG include:
- Vytenis Andriukaitis (EU Commissioner for Health and Food Safety)
- Zsuzsanna Jakab (Regional Director, WHO Regional Office for Europe)
- Sabine Oberhauser (Federal Minister of Health/Austria)
- Hans Jörg Schelling (Federal Minister of Finance/Austria)
- Rudolf Hundstorfer (Federal Minister of Social Affairs and Consumer Protection/Austria)
- Lydia Mutsch (Minister for Health and Equal Opportunities/Luxembourg)
- Martin McKee (Professor, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine)

Young Forum Gastein and European Health Award 2015
The EHFG and the European Commission make it possible for young health experts from the areas of politics, science and civil society to participate in the EHFG and to exchange information with high-ranking experts within the framework of the Young Forum Gastein. More information: http://www.ehfg.org/young-gastein.html . Every year during the Forum, the EHFG presents the European Health Award to initiatives that contribute to improving cross-border health care. Further information: http://www.ehfg.org/award.html

The programme can be downloaded from the EHFG website: http://goo.gl/R9qfyO

About the European Health Forum Gastein (EHFG)
The European Health Forum Gastein (EHFG) offers a unique platform by and for experts, policy makers, opinion leaders and interest groups from the area of health policy. Over the last 18 years, the EHFG has developed into an institution that addresses and discusses current and future European health policy developments and thus helps to shape European health policy. The EHFG is supported, among others, by the European Commission, by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Health and the province of Salzburg.

Further information: http://www.ehfg.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gasteinforum
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GasteinForum

Press contact:
Milestones in Communication
Mag. Marion Velik
t +43 1 890 04 29 - 0
marion.velik@minc.at
http://www.minc.at

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Submitter: Milestones in Communication Contact: Mag. Marion Velik Phone: +43 1 890 04 29-0 E-Mail: marion.velik@minc.at Website: www.minc.at