As one of the leading theorists and practitioners of Population Health Management in the UK, the Health Economics Unit’s Andi Orlowski was invited by the World Health Organization(WHO)to share his insights with an international audience. Following his thought-provoking trip to the WHO and European Health Observatory’s (EHO) Population Health Management (PHM) Policy Dialogue in Brussels, Andi reflects on his experience and the discussions he was a part of…
As a passionate advocate for Population Health Management (PHM), I was delighted to be asked to attend the Population Health Management Policy Dialogue in Brussels on July 5, 2024. I was excited not only to be able to share the Health Economics Unit’s (HEU) unparalleled expertise in PHM, but also to meet similar experts from across the globe, and learn how this valuable technique is being used in other countries. The exchange of insights with our WHO, EHO and Belgian colleagues was a fantastic opportunity to advance our knowledge and see how theory is being turned into reality in complex health and care systems around the world.
Sharing Expertise in Population Health Management
In my role as Director of the HEU, I had the pleasure of contributing to the discussions on various PHM strategies and their implementation at the policy dialogue. Our team’s extensive work in health economics and analytics has been groundbreaking, and I was able to share work such as our successful Smarter Spending in Population Health programme, and our innovative PHM training curriculum. The dialogue underscored the pivotal role that robust health data and proactive management play in revolutionising health policies.
Learning from International Experiences
One of the highlights of the event was undoubtedly hearing about the phenomenal PHM approaches adopted by other countries. The integration of primary care, secondary care, and community health services, presented by the brilliant Marc Bruijnzeels from Leiden University, was a masterclass in effective PHM implementation.
Similarly, the insightful contributions from José Cerezo of the WHO Centre for Primary Healthcare and Vanessa Ribeiro from Portugal’s Central Administration of the Health System offered ideas and practices which we can feed back into our own work in the UK.
The diverse range of experiences showcased the universal challenges in health management and the immense potential for shared solutions.
The ‘Wisdom of Crowds’
One of the most reassuring aspects of the Policy Dialogue was discovering the remarkable similarities in PHM approaches across different countries. This alignment in strategies, affirms that we are on the right track with our initiatives, and our methods resonated with the collective wisdom of international experts, embodying the “wisdom of crowds.” It was interesting to see so many top global PHM experts converging on similar solutions, reinforcing the notion that when diverse minds arrive at similar conclusions, the approach is likely both practical and effective.
PHM insights from Belgium
A key moment in the dialogue, was learning from Belgian health policy experts about their latest work in PHM. Belgium’s ambitious efforts to develop a comprehensive PHM strategy, as detailed in the sessions, revealed a deep commitment to integrated care and population health. The policy dialogue was a crucial milestone towards defining and implementing a cohesive PHM strategy tailored to Belgium’s unique healthcare landscape.
The breakout sessions fostered deeper discussions and sparking a plethora of actionable insights. Topics such as defining PHM, building a comprehensive strategy, and identifying enablers and barriers to implementation, allowed for a dynamic exchange of ideas. Our collaborative brainstorming sessions were aimed at crafting PHM strategies that perfectly meet the needs of the Belgian population.
Creating an environment for innovation
The PHM Policy Dialogue in Brussels was more than just a meeting; it was a unique convergence of minds dedicated to transforming health systems and outcomes. Sharing the Health Economics Unit’s exceptional expertise, learning from outstanding international experiences, and collaborating with our Belgian counterparts created an electrifying environment for innovation and progress in population health management.
I eagerly look forward to future collaborations and the continuous exchange of groundbreaking knowledge that will undoubtedly drive the success of PHM initiatives worldwide.
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