EU Cohesion Policy supporting health for regional development

Andor Urmos Policy Analyst,

Thematic Coordination, InnovationDG Regio

Venice Stakeholder EventEUREGIO III

25th of February, 2010

European Commission, Regional Policy Directorate Generalhttp://ec.europa.eu./comm/regional_policy

OUTLINE

Regions, health policy and Cohesion policy

Cohesion policy investments in health

Health inequalities

PART I - Health and regions

Regional / territorial dimension of health policy

Relevance of health in Cohesion Policy

Health as a prerequisite for socio- economic development Health care “industry” R&D, SMEsPublic health care initiatives

Disparities in levels of development between EU27 regions are significant and have doubled compared to EU15 (measured in GDP/head).

Based on a strategic approach (Community Strategic Guidelines on Cohesion), cohesion policy instruments invest in endogenous growth potential, competitiveness of regional economies and infrastructure.

Cohesion policy instruments account for one third of the EU budget or EUR 347 billion over the 2007-2013 period.

Based on the policy’s principles of concentration, programming, partnership, additionality and efficiency, the funds’ implementation follows shared management between the Commission, the Member States and the regions.

EU cohesion policy in a nutshell

<50

50 - 75

75 - 90

90 - 100

100 - 125

125

Index, EUR-27 = 100

Regional Disparities in EU27GDP per head in % in Purchase Power Standard PPS (2004)

EU Cohesion Policy 2007-2013Eligible Regions

Total Budget:EUR 347.4 Mrd. (35,6% of the EU-Budget)

Of which 82% for Convergence Regions,15% for the other.

STRUCTURAL FUNDS

OBJECTIVES HEALTH INVESTMENTS

ERDF ‘Convergence’ Investment in health infrastructure to contribute to regional development and quality of life

‘European territorial cooperation’

Development of collaboration and capacity

ESF ‘Convergence’

And

‘Regional competitiveness and employment’

Training of health professionals

Safety at work to promote more productive forms of work organisation

PART II - Cohesion Policy 2007-2013

0 %

<1%

1-2%

2-3%

3-4%

4-5%

>5%

Health infrastructure: Percentage of planned investments in health infrastructure in relation to the total amount of Structural Funds allocated to Member States in 2007-13.

Between 2007 and 2013:

•€5.1 billion (1.5% of the total of cohesion policy funding) has been earmarked to support health infrastructure

•€5 billion have been earmarked for e-services (including e-health)

•€1 billion has been earmarked for active ageing, etc.

EU Funding 2007-2013

Health infrastructure is the most visible priority

Additional range of actions to eligible for Structural Funding: Population ageing Healthy workforce Health innovation and research Knowledge and information technology Environment

Cohesion policy 2007-2013

Cohesion Policy: instruments and objectives 2007-2013

ERDF ESFESFCohesion

FundConvergence

Regional Competitiveness and Employment

European territorial Cooperation

ERDF

ERDF

ESFESF

Infrastructure, Innovation

TTrainingMeasures

Occupational health

Member States with aGDP/head below 90%

Environment,Transport

infrastructure

All Member States and regions

3 Objectives Structural Funds and Cohesion Fund

HEALTHHEALTH

HEALTH

HEALTH

HEALTH

Direct investments ERDF, ESF – infrastructure, e-health, health promotion,

access to services, edication/training, etc. Indirect investments

ERDF, ESF - workplace health, inclusive employment, health & safety

Investment with potential health gain ERDF, ESF, Cohesion Fund - urban rehabilitation, social

cohesion, R&D, transport, environment, etc.

By Jonathan Watson (Health and Structural Funds in 2007-2013: Country and regional assessment)

Cohesion Policy: instruments and objectives 2007-2013

Member States health priorities in NSRFs and OPs (by area of investment)

Structural Funds 2007-2013: health investments

Health promotion, prevention: BE, CZ, EL, HU, IE, LT, SK 7

Screenings: HU, LT, SK 3

Health promotion, safety at work: BE, CZ, DE, DK, EL, ES, FI, HU, LX, RO, SK 11

eHealth: CY, DK, EL, LT, NL, RO 6

Health infrastructure: BG, CZ, DE, EL, FR, HU, LT, LV, PL, RO, SK 11

Education of health care professionals: CY, CZ, EL, ES, HU, LT, LV, SK 8

Quality (management): CZ, EL, HU, LT, PL, SK 6

Environmental health: CZ, FI, HU, LT, MT, RO 6

Demographic change: AT, FI, FR, RO, SK 5

Access to health care: BE, CZ, EL, ES, FI, FR, HU, LT, LV, SK 10

Emergency care: HU, LT, LV, PL, SK 5

PART III - Health inequalities in the EU: BETWEEN Countries

Life expectancy at birth (years) for males ranges from 65 (Latvia, Lithuania) to 79 (Sweden), a gap of 14 years

Life expectancy at birth (years) for females ranges from 76 (Bulgaria, Latvia, Romania) to 84 (France, Italy, Spain), a gap of 8 years

Solidarity in Health:Reducing Health Inequalities in the EUCommunication, 2009. October

Background 5-fold difference in deaths of babies (under 1

year) 14 year gap in life expectancy (men), 8 year

gap (women) Regions, rural-urban areas, neighbourhoods,

etc.

Need for further actions – negative consequence for health, social cohesion, economic development

An equitable distribution of health as part of overall social and economic development

Lisbon agenda objectives Economic growth Greater social cohesion Healthy life years indicator (to monitor progress)

Need for reducing health inequalities

Solidarity in Health:Reducing Health Inequalities in the EUCommunication, 2009. October

Actions Improving data base (measuring, monitoring, evaluation,

reporting) Collection of data and health inequality indicators (age, sex,

socio-economic status, geographic dimension) Orientation of EU research - 7th EU Framework Programme for

Research Common set of indicators – monitoring health inequalities

(Member States, Commission) Building commitment across society

Improving the exchange of information, knowledge, across sectors (social care, employment, education, regional development, etc.)

Promotion of good practices at EU level Training to address health inequalities

Solidarity in Health:Reducing Health Inequalities in the EUCommunication, 2009. October

Meeting the needs of vulnerable groups Special attention to be given to needs of people in poverty, migrants, ethnic

minority groups, people with disabilities, elderly, child poverty Raise awareness, promotion of actions to improve access to health services,

health promotion, preventive care Report on using Community instruments and policies for Roma inclusion

(Roma Summit April, 2010, Spain) Report on health inequalities by Fundamental Right Agency (access to

adeqaute health care, social and housing assistance, etc.)

Developing the contributions of EU policies Half of EU Member States do not place emphasis on reducing health

inequalities, lack of comprehensive inter-sectoral strategies. To assist Member States about better use of SF, Cohesion Policy for

reducing health inequalities Further use of rural development policy, market policy (school milk, school

fruit scheme) – rural poverty Provide funding under PROGRESS, peer reviews, developing relevant

strategies

Solidarity in Health:Reducing Health Inequalities in the EUCommunication, 2009. October

The 'Saude' programme, Portugal

Example of a comprehensive health programme, funded by ERDF and ESF since 1986. In the initial phase, construction of hospitals and health centres, training of nurses. Focus now as well on health promotion and disease prevention, access to health services and partnership structures in the health sector

Budget 2000-06: EUR 698 million, of which 476 million from Structural Funds

From health infrastructure to health promotion

Kuopio Science Park, East of Finland

Regional cluster for health, nutrition and environmental sciences reinforced by ICT development, in the second half of the 1990ies. 18,000 people work and study in the science park

Funding: ERDF

Health, research, innovation and ICT

The “Regions for Economic Change“ initiativeBetween 2007 and 2013, networks of regions working together on 30 selected themes will be created under the initiative. Three of them will be specific for health related issues:

Making healthy communities

Meeting the demographic challenge

Promoting a healthy workforce in healthy workplaces

Interregional networking

Thank you for your attention!

Andor Urmos

DG Regio

Tel: +32-2-229-50679

Email: andor.urmos@ec.europa.eu