Alzheimer Europe takes part in EU consultation on health services

Wednesday 31 January 2007

Alzheimer Europe contributed to the Commission’s consultation on Community Action on Health Services.

In its response, the organisation calls for the recognition of Alzheimer’s disease as a major European public health issue, including the recognition of the various forms of dementia and their very specific needs.

The strategy must also take into consideration the inequalities in Europe regarding reimbursement of dementia treatments, market access delays for the existing treatments and access to treatments. The disparities around care must also be considered.

Alzheimer Europe’s expectations from the Framework:

• The strategy must ensure that the specificities of diseases are taken into account, including Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases.
• The strategy must above all be an opportunity to address the European inequalities around dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
• The strategy must respect the individuals. The Open Method of Coordination is a welcome tool. Alzheimer Europe and its member associations are willing to contribute and share their expertise.
• Mobility of health professionals must follow robust criteria to ensure quality and safety.
• Language is an important factor to take into account.
• Legal issues must be considered: in particular, the 2000 Hague Convention for the International Protection of Adults must be further promoted and ratified by all EU Member States. The same applies to advanced directives.
• Robust information about patient mobility, its modalities and legal aspects must be shared with the European citizens. Patients organisations, as recognized information providers, have a key role to play.
• The benefits of the exercise should be to upgrade the national healthcare services rather than looking for the lower common denominator.

• Cross-border care and patient mobility should not lead to the wreckage of the European social model.