Policies and strategies influence the wider determinants of health. These determinants have their impact on a range of different risk factors which then directly affect human health. The main aim of the project is to develop methodologies for conduct of “full chain” risk assessment and implement them on a case study application on selected EC policy and via a series of national workshops.
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The PHIS project aims to increase the level of knowledge and exchange of information on pharmaceutical policies in the European Union. This will be achieved by surveying and monitoring pharmaceutical health system information in the inpatient and outpatient sector from a public health perspective, and by developing key pharmaceutical health indicators to be included in a European Health Information System.
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Our objectives are reflected both in the conference programme, in the methods of preparing the event and in disseminating its major outcomes.
Objective 1 is to raise the quality of internationally comparative HSR. Main lessons will include a shared understanding on the current-state-of-the-art of cross-national health services research, as well as recommendations on how to improve its contribution to policy. These will be summarized in a special policy brief on internationally comparative HSR and an article to be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. To assure high quality of these outcomes, it is vital that lead experts from international and national knowledge centres for health services research are involved in the preparation of and participation during the event.
Objective 2 is to help national decision makers in identifying and using international research evidence. The event itself is a major element in achieving this objective. Offering a platform for linkage and exchange between researchers and the users of their products is crucial in ensuring an effective use of HSR (Lomas et al., 2003). In order to make such a platform sustainable it is also important that meeting opportunities remain possible between various stakeholders after the meeting, among others through existing infrastructures. Both by means of our website and new social media we will improve networking opportunities. We will also contribute to strengthening linkages through workshops that will be held at future events. To illustrate our recognition of their importance, workshops have already been prepared by the HSR-Europe network at AcademyHealth`s Annual Research Meeting and EHMA`s annual conference (both in June 2011) and a training session for PhD students in HSR to the EUPHA/ASPHER conference (in November 2011). While important, it should be noted that such sessions - being of limited size as part of existing venues - do not have the same potential of building synergies between communities that a special full-day working conference will have.
Objective 3 is to strengthen capacity both at the research and policy side of the health care landscape. It bears close resemblance to objective 2 and the conference will be a major element, providing a forum at which knowledge can be generated that will lower the barriers for high potential newcomers to the field to join international research activities or make use of its outcomes. To achieve this purpose, it is also crucial that specific elements will be incorporated in the conference programme, in particular regarding proposal preparation and partner selection in international (EU-funded) projects, as well as by offering an opportunity for national funding bodies to compare research agendas, thus promoting joint action and sharing of scarce resources. This should lead to strengthening international exchange and mutual learning, thus improving the capacity of users and producers of health services research.
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Mental ill health has a unique impact on all aspects of life at individual and community levels and represents a major economic burden. Suicide is never the consequence of a single cause or stressor and its rate can vary between regions and local communities as well as over time and within various risk groups. Given the existing discrepancies in suicide rates within Member States and regions, this project brings together 11 regions with different experiences in suicide prevention, with the objective of undertaking a bottom-up approach for large-scale interventions so as to lower rates of suicide in diverse populations. The development of large-scale and evidence-based programmes has a three-fold aim: 1) strengthening community-based systems of early detection, support and referral of suicidal behaviour 2) creating sustainable networks within each participating region that should ensure continuity of prevention programmes, 3) reduction of suicide rates in risks groups by improving the efficacy of care and support.
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The General Objectives of the joint action are to help to reduce health inequalities by:
. developing knowledge for action on health inequalities
. supporting the engagement of Member States, regions and other stakeholders in action to tackle socio-economic and geographic health inequalities
. sharing learning between Member States and other actors
. supporting the development of effective action to tackle socio-economic health inequalities at the European policy level.
Action to tackle health inequalities is required at EU, national, regional and local level, with a wide range of stakeholders across a range of policy areas. The joint action aims to strategically engage with key players to develop, evidence and knowledge of what works.


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