In Paris today, the Minister of Health, Alba Vergés, said that “the Catalan public health system is one of the best in Europe”, and that its strength is demonstrated by indicators that measure quality, equity and efficiency, and by its “ability to adapt and evolve”.

 

Speaking at the MedTech Forum 2019, the largest health and medical technology industry conference in Europe, held today in the French capital, Vergés said: “We’re moving towards a system that focuses new technologies on the needs of the population.” According to the minister, the system is “proud to offer opportunities for citizen participation in its redesign in order to prioritise the health services that are most valued”.

 

Vergés also said the Ministry, together with the Catalan Agency for Health Quality and Assessment (AQuAS), is working to “make the system sustainable by assessing new technologies and considering the implementation of innovative payment models that focus on results achieved with patients”. An example she gave was the adoption by the public sector of innovative approaches to procurement that bring real value to the health system. Collection and use of data based on needs and results achieved is crucial to measure value and reimburse providers accordingly.

“We want technology, but only if it’s serving our ends, and we can achieve that if we define the needs of buyers/patients right from the start. That’s what we’re starting to do now,” said the minister. As an example, she pointed to the PADRIS programme, which makes health-related data available to scientists to drive health research, innovation and assessment.