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EC Workshop on on financing of health systems and social protection in health

The EU French presidency (July – December 2007) has proposed to focus its development agenda on the issue of financing of health systems and within the wider context of social protection with the main objective of identifying ways in which the EU can support development of health systems which do not prevent individuals from access to health or do not drive them into poverty by having to face catastrophic health expenditure.

In the context of the upcoming European Commission Communication on Financing Health Systems and Sickness Risk Coverage, a workshop was organized which. brought together social and health protection experts from the North and South in order to discuss best practices, share health insurance models and to devise a way forward.

Together with the European Working Group on Social Protection and Decent Work, Stop AIDS Alliance presented a position paper on this subject, which calls for the development of adequate social protection schemes with the meaningful participation of all relevant stakeholders, and sustainable financing for social protection schemes, in particular for health care systems.

Furthermore, the Working Group asks the EU to prioritize social protection in its development policy and make it a central part of the its response to the global economic crisis, as it is a critical means of tackling chronic poverty. but also as an investment in human capital which catalyses economic growth, social inclusion and empowerment. After all, social protection is a cost-effective investment which is essential to sustainable development, poverty eradication and the achievement of the MDGs.