Lunch symposium: Health inequalities and multimorbidity as challenges to the sustainability of public health systems – examples from Finland and Scotland  

Friday 10 November, 12:50 – 13:50 (Dublin time) 

Organised by:

IMPRO -  multidisciplinary research project coordinated by the University of Eastern Finland (UEF) together with Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Aalto University and University of Oulu

Background

IMPRO is a multidisciplinary research project seeking to develop new analysis methods for evaluating health and social services, and to support the development of more equal and cost-effective services. We study the structure, effectiveness and performance of health and social services. The research is based on data in national social welfare and health care registers and spatial information. Our research team will analyse social welfare and health care structures, accessibility of care, care paths as well as the outcomes, costs and cost-effectiveness of care. As examples, we will select illnesses that play a key role in terms of public health and result in high levels of service use and costs. The ‘Siun sote’ joint municipal authority in North Karelia and Kainuu Social Welfare and Health Care Joint Authority will be pilot regions for the project.

Objective

In this lunch symposium we will concentrate on the key challenges faced by current health systems in Western European countries. These are sustainability and inequity of health systems. This is a timely topic as population in Western countries is ageing and health inequalities are a constant public health challenge.

We’ll approach these themes by concentrating on the increase in multimorbidity in the population and the impact of socio-economic differences in access to health care. The recent research results of above-mentioned topics from Finland and Scotland are presented with commentaries. 

Programme

Health inequalities and multimorbidity as public health challenges
Tiina Laatikainen, IMPRO Project leade, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Finland

Increasing multimorbidity and related healthcare cost – a challenge for the sustainability in health services
Miika Linna, Aalto University, Finland

Is primary care transformation in Scotland reducing health inequalities and meeting the needs of older people
Stewart Mercer, The University of Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom

From research to national practice: the development of ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSC) and potential years of life lost (PYLL) in Finland
Markku Satokangas, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Finland

Comments and questions from the audience 

Registration

Registration is not required. Delegates who are registered for the main EPH Conference can attend free of charge. Get your lunch in the Exhibiton / Catering Area, walk in and join the session.