Study launched on the sustainability and resilience of the Belgian healthcare system
Looking towards the future, stakeholders in the sector are beginning to explore how to improve the resilience and sustainability of healthcare systems. While it is impossible to prevent all health crises, increased efforts should be made to ensure that health systems are able to continually respond to the needs of the populations they serve, whilst also being able to prepare for, adapt to, learn, transform and recover from shocks and accumulated stresses.
The Partnership for Health System Sustainability and Resilience (PHSSR) is a global collaboration between academic, non-governmental, life sciences, healthcare and business organisations. The PHSSR was established in 2020 by the London School of Economics, the World Economic Forum, and AstraZeneca, who were later joined by global-level partners that include Philips and KPMG.
Active in more than 20 countries, the PHSSR and its partners seek to work with local academics, governments, policymakers and other stakeholders to build knowledge and guide action through research reports that offer evidence-informed policy recommendations for healthcare system reform.
Working with Professor Lieven Annemans at Ghent University, the PHSSR is now commencing its study of the resilience and sustainability of the healthcare system in Belgium.
“In order to create truly sustainable and resilient health systems it is essential that there is collaboration at the system level between all stakeholders including governments, public and private providers and healthcare payers, thereby actively involving the patient’s voice” says Professor Lieven Annemans.
Researchers at Ghent University will use a framework developed by the London School of Economics to assess the country’s health system across seven key areas: financing, governance, workforce, medicines and technology, service delivery, population health, and environmental sustainability, in order to identify strengths, potential weaknesses, opportunities and risks. A report will then be developed and validated with input from a cross-sectoral group of Belgian expert stakeholders.
“The PHSSR is grasping the opportunity the pandemic has given us to act and address global health issues. We are turning research into action by working with over 20 countries to identify solutions with the greatest potential, support their adoption, and share knowledge across borders,” says Professor Alistair McGuire, Head of Department and Chair of Health Economics at the Department of Health Policy, London School of Economics.
Results of the Belgian research report are expected to be released in October 2022. These findings will also be presented to a global audience at PHSSR’s second Global Summit, planned for late 2022.
About the Partnership for Health System Sustainability and Resilience
The Partnership for Health System Sustainability and Resilience (PHSSR) is a collaboration between academic, non-governmental, life sciences, healthcare and business organisations aimed at studying and helping to build health systems that are both resilient to crises and sustainable in the face of long-term stresses. For more information on the PHSSR, or to stay up to date on news, events and latest research findings, please visit: www.weforum.org/phssr.