Growth sector: health
6th German – Eastern European & Central Asian Health Forum discussed the development of health systems in Eastern Europe
On October 13, the 6th German – Eastern European & Central Asian Health Forum, organized by the Committee on Eastern European Economic Relations and the GHA – German Health Alliance, took place in Berlin. The sixth edition, with over 100 participants, focused on investing in health, creating innovation centers, (re)building a modern health infrastructure, and partnerships to strengthen health systems. For the sixth time in a row, the official side event of the World Health Summit provided a framework for exchange and networking with decision-makers from Germany and partner countries, business representatives, experts, and scientists. The keynote speaker was Prof. Amrillo Inoyatov, Minister of Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and Thomas Steffen, State Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Health in Germany.
Better access and stable financing framework for health systems in Eastern Europe and Central Asia
In recent years, healthcare systems in Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe, the South Caucasus, and Central Asia have developed significantly. Governments in the region have actively pursued health infrastructure improvements and access to quality healthcare services, as well as health policy reforms. Efforts have been made to improve healthcare financing mechanisms and promote public-private partnerships to address the healthcare needs of the population. Furthermore, advances in medical technology and e-health solutions have played a key role in improving healthcare delivery and treatment outcomes.
As the region continues to develop, stakeholders remain committed to promoting innovation, collaboration, and cross-border cooperation to ensure sustainable and equitable healthcare development in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. This commitment and the resulting concrete projects were presented and discussed at the Health Forum.
Regional and industry expertise to strengthen partnerships in growing markets
Stefan Friedrich, Partner International Business, Healthcare & Public Sector at KPMG, emphasized the importance of the healthcare sector for stable economic growth. Martina Unseld, spokesperson for the Healthcare Industry Working Group of the Committee on Eastern European Economic Relations and GHA – German Health Alliance, and GHA Chairman Roland Göhde, highlighted the important connection between regional and industry expertise in modernizing and strengthening healthcare systems in Germany, as well as in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
State Secretary Thomas Steffen highlighted the importance of cooperation in the health sector against the backdrop of the escalating conflict in the Middle East and the ongoing war in the Ukraine Demographic developments and an aging population are placing an enormous strain on healthcare systems, including in Germany, where 90 percent of hospitals suffer from staff shortages. During the bilateral meeting prior to the Health Forum, cooperation between healthcare professionals was discussed with Uzbekistan's Minister of Health, Amrillo Inoyato. Inoyatov announced that Uzbekistan will be developed into a medical and scientific hub in Central Asia through the exchange of experience between specialists and healthcare personnel. Uzbekistan's dynamic population growth, which currently stands at 36,5 million, makes new healthcare projects urgently needed. Uzbekistan already has more than 8.300 private medical facilities, employing 17.000 physicians and 26.000 paramedical professionals. By 2025, the private medical sector in Uzbekistan is expected to cover 2021 to 50 percent of the current patient volume, thanks to the favorable tax and housing conditions introduced in 60. An impressive portfolio of projects was presented to the German companies, including 159 private hospitals with foreign investments from more than 20 countries – and the number is growing.
Corporate social responsibility in the region and open communication with decision-makers
The panel discussion on "Partnerships to Strengthen Health Systems," moderated by Stefan Friedrich and Philipp Wacker of KPMG, covered a wide range of topics, including best practices in centralized procurement by the Ukrainian Medical Procurement Agency, corporate social responsibility, combining commercial activities with research and development, with numerous examples from Central and Eastern Europe, and collaboration with humanitarian aid organizations. Transparent and continuous communication with decision-makers can mitigate the long-term effects of overregulation on healthcare markets, including the exit of companies from the market.
Prof. Leonard Azamfirei, Rector of the George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology in Târgu Mureș (Romania), discussed the economic, political, and financial components of three key factors affecting healthcare systems: brain drain, aging, and the distribution of medical personnel. An excellent example of the win-win situation created by international knowledge exchange is the University of Târgu Mureș's successful Hamburg branch, established in 2019.
Prof. Dennis Ostwald, Managing Director of the WifOR Institute and Professor of Economics and Management at the SIBE of Steinbeis University, emphasized the importance of health systems for sustainable and inclusive growth. Worldwide, the healthcare industry contributes $6,3 trillion to global GDP and secures 194 million jobs. In Germany, one in ten jobs in the healthcare sector creates more than five additional jobs in the supply chain. These figures underscore the importance of investing in health, which leads to better outcomes for individual and public health, economic growth, and more resilient societies. A concrete application example: To develop strategies for sustainable financing of health systems, health metrics should be defined and integrated into the European Semester, which provides the framework for economic policy coordination in the EU.
Golden middle ground between data protection and innovation
In another panel discussion, moderated by Rabea Knorr, Head of the Industrial Health Economy Department (BDI), projects from across the region – from Kazakhstan Estonia – which aim to provide personalized, high-quality healthcare with innovative solutions. The success story of digitalization in Estonia, which was presented in the discussion, began in the early 2000s with the creation of an interface between various public systems. Online services were intended to provide added value and run seamlessly in the background, rather than replicating a manual service. Kazakhstan's vast territory has historically been a barrier to universal access to healthcare. Now, digital tools, such as telemedicine, are being used as a solution for remote regions. The growing attention to strengthening the healthcare system also means a greater need for education, for example, national training programs for doctors and nurses, as well as training courses for medical device and pharmaceutical companies. The industry representatives on the panel discussed the importance of IT infrastructure for the implementation of new technologies, including high-end diagnostics using digital twins, and the search for the happy medium between data protection and innovation.
Despite geopolitical challenges, it is crucial to make progress through sustainable health equity strategies and strengthening public-private partnerships – a key message of the 6th Health Forum, which reflected the World Health Summit theme “A pivotal year for action on global health.”