• The 2024 edition of Health at a Glance: Europe presents the state of European healthcare systems as they continue their recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and respond to the challenges and opportunities posed by digitalisation, climate change and demographic shifts.
• This year’s report focuses on two key, related themes: addressing the health workforce shortage and promoting healthy longevity, the report says.
• In the short term, improving working conditions and pay is essential to increase the attractiveness of the profession and the retention of current healthcare staff.
• Increasing education and training opportunities for new doctors and nurses is also essential to boost supply, although its impact will only be felt in the medium to long term.
• Optimizing the skills mix, for example by making wider use of advanced practice nurses, as well as by harnessing digital technologies and Artificial Intelligence (AI), will be essential to increase the productivity of healthcare staff and to allow doctors and nurses to focus more on patient care.
• Promoting healthy longevity can reduce the burden on health and long-term care, the report “Health at a glance: Europe” shows.
• Public health experts argue that, yes, in pieces the system is ready to face the new challenges and we can even point to top hospitals, outpatient clinics, laboratories.
• But overall? No! The system is not ready. But, most admit, Romania needs a “new health”. The explanation is simple: artificial intelligence, cell therapies, virtual medical assistants are coming upon us. Digitalization.
• We highlight the progress of the Romanian medical system, but these progress are due to a bunch of doctors, managers. New health does not mean throwing away what is old, but keeping what is good and building on a solid foundation.
• It means having courage!
• For old and effective therapies, the authorities must fight to keep them, for the benefit of the sick.
• The human resource crisis deepens year by year.
• Romania can be proud of many medical faculties. So, where do the graduates go?
• What is the policy for keeping these young people in the system?

DISCUSSION TOPICS:

PANEL I: Health from health

• X-ray of the healthcare system.
• The situation of money in healthcare – budgetary limits, FNUASS – major changes, infrastructure, the burden of the emergency system, preparation for possible crises.

PANEL 2 – PANEL II: Health, safety and patient comfort in the digital age. The unique challenges of the healthcare system

• Cellular therapies, digitalization, PNRR /li>
• Valorization of digital technologies and Artificial Intelligence /li>
• Reason and action in Romanian healthcare /li>
• Health and the workforce crisis Examples of good practices