Photo (L-R): A/Prof Axel Hofmann, Christoph Zenger, Dr. Elvira Bisbe, Danny Havenith
October 2019, Gastein, Austria
A multi-sectoral panel of experts, including IFPBM President Christoph Zenger, IFPBM Vice President A/Prof Axel Hofmann, IFPBM Scientific Associate Dr. Elvira Bisbe and CEO of MercurHosp – Belgium Danny Havenith, were invited to discuss blood policy, Patient Blood Management and their impact on healthcare systems in a Workshop held at the prestigious European Health Forum Gastein (EHFG). Since its foundation in 1998 the EHFG conference has developed into a key annual event, bringing together, politicians, senior decision-makers, representatives of interest groups, and experts in the field of public health and healthcare.
Held in the beautiful Gastein Valley, Austria, the theme of EHFG 2019 was ‘A healthy dose of disruption? Transformative change for health and societal well-being.’ The organizers stated; ‘The European Health Forum Gastein 2019 invites participants to envision the trajectory that European health policy needs to take on the road to 2030 and beyond, pinpointing the actions that need to happen now, even if this may mean disrupting the mechanics of our current systems as we know them.
Keynote Speaker for the Workshop ‘Save blood, save lives. Improving patient outcomes through Patient Blood Management’, A/Prof Axel Hofmann said; “Against a backdrop of waning blood supplies and concern about transmissible diseases, the European Commission is considering a review of the EU Blood Directive. It is timely to reflect on current blood policies and how to improve patient care while building sustainable healthcare models. Patient Blood Management (PBM) is a bundle of care to improve patient outcomes by managing and preserving the patient’s own blood rather than resorting to scarce donor blood. This marks a paradigm shift. It is disrupting standard healthcare practices. It has the potential for re-imagining hospital systems and the patient journey by reducing the need for transfusions, improving patient outcomes and reducing healthcare costs.”
More information on the European Health Forum Gastein is available from their website here.