Universal access and citizens rights in health care

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Universal access and citizens rights in health
care

• Willy Palm, Director
• Association Internationale de la Mutualité

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AIM in the world
? ? ? ?
(www.aim-mutual.org)
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AIM common principles

• Human health and well-being
• Solidarity

• Autonomous management
• Non profit orientation

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(No Transcript)
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EU health protection systems
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European economic area1998
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Evolution health expenditure 1987-1998
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Types of private protection
Public
SUBSTITUTIVE
Private
ALTERNATIVE
COMPLEMENTARY
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EU impact on health systems

• Social security is not an economic good (ECJ
  Poucet-Pistre)
• but social security and health care are not
  exempt from EC law (ECJ Kohll Decker)
• impediments to free movement justified only if
  necessary, proportional and based on objective
  criteria (rule of reason)
• competition rules apply unless they obstruct
  tasks of general (economic) interest!

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Counterbalancing competition rules

• Other Community objectives
• ensuring a high level of social and health
  protection (Art. 2-3 EC Treaty)
• guaranteeing access to health care (Article 35
  Charter fundamental rights)
• reversing the concept of unfair competition(cfr.
  Albany ruling ECJ)

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EP Resolution on supplementary health insurance
(Dec. 2000)

• Growing importance of supplementary health
  insurance in ensuring access to care
• a European framework for supplementary health
  insurance?
• Guiding principles for public policy
• Common minimum rules for health insurers

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Services of general interest

• Article 16 EC Treaty preserve universal access,
  quality and affordability
• Opinion on private not-for-profit social services
  (ESC, 12 Sept. 2001)
• Declaration of Laken? (AIM position)

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Future of health care and care for the elderly
(COM 2001/723)

• Common objectives
• access for all
• high quality
• financial sustainability
• Open co-ordination method
• sharing best practices
• setting common goals and indicators