European Health Forum
The EU Health Forum was created by the Directorate-General “Health and Consumer protection” of the European Commission in 2001 with the aim to provide an opportunity for representative organisations of patients, health professionals and other stakeholders to contribute to the development of health policy. The European Health Forum is composed of two complementary elements: the Open Forum and the Health Policy Forum.
The Health Policy Forum meets regularly under the chairmanship of the
Commission’s Health Directorate-General. Its members are informed about the latest
developments concerning different Commission initiatives in the field of health. The Forum holds
discussions and produces opinions and recommendations on key health policy areas thus helping to
shape health policy and setting future priorities for action.
Since August 2006 EULAR has had an observer status in the European Health Forum. Thus, EULAR is
regularly updated on the activities of the Forum. Furthermore, EULAR will be invited to meetings
which are of direct interest for our members and will have the opportunity to make contributions to
all topics discussed by the Forum.
The Open Forum is a platform for general exchange of information and for
discussion with a broader range of different stakeholders in the European health community. It
takes place every year in Brussels in the form of an annual conference and exhibition event.
RELATED INFORMATION
Health Policy Forum Meeting
The last meeting took place in Brussels on 22 November 2006. In two parallel workshops the
members discussed the upcoming initiative of the European Commission on health services in the
European Single Market and the challenges in front of the future European Health Strategy.
Open Forum
The second European Open Forum took place on 7/8 November 2005 in Brussels with the overall theme
“Health Challenges and Future Strategy”.