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<title>Itinera Institute - Issues - Health-Care</title>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org</link>
<description>Itinera Institute - Issues - Health-Care</description>
<image>
<url>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/web/sources/img/logo_itinera.jpg</url>
<title>Itinera Institute - Issues - Health-Care</title>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org</link>
</image>
<copyright>Copyright 2012, Itinera Institute</copyright>
<language>en</language>
<pubDate>Wed, 07 Dec 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
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<title>Healthcare: From star to cash cow? </title>
<description><![CDATA[ Lieven Annemans analyses the potential impact of budgetary restrictions in our healthcare system. He pleads for more quality-friendliness in the payment system if we want to maintain a solidary and internationally renowned healthcare system. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 07 Dec 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/healthcare-from-star-to-cash-cow/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/healthcare-from-star-to-cash-cow/</guid>
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<title>Video: From #NoGov to #GoodGov</title>
<description><![CDATA[ ]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 09 Nov 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/videofromnogovtogoodgov/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/videofromnogovtogoodgov/</guid>
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<title>Video: How to keep health care affordable?</title>
<description><![CDATA[ ]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 09 Nov 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/videohoegezondheidszorgbetaalbaarhouden/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/videohoegezondheidszorgbetaalbaarhouden/</guid>
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<title>From #NoGov to #GoodGov</title>
<description><![CDATA[ The report &quot;From #NoGov to #GoodGov&quot; is a constructive contribution to the negotiations, from a strategic and long-term perspective. The emphasis lies on the major challenges facing the new government, with 45 concrete recommendations for a vigorous policy.]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 25 Oct 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/fromnogovtogoodgov/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/fromnogovtogoodgov/</guid>
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<title>Presentation: From #NoGov to #GoodGov</title>
<description><![CDATA[ The report &quot;From #NoGov to #GoodGov&quot; is a constructive contribution to the negotiations, from a strategic and long-term perspective. The emphasis lies on the major challenges facing the new government, with 45 concrete recommendations for a vigorous policy.]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 25 Oct 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/presentationfromnogovtogoodgov/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/presentationfromnogovtogoodgov/</guid>
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<title>Involve babyboomers when financing nursing homes </title>
<description><![CDATA[ The extra subsidies of Flemish Minister for wellbeing Vandeurzen for the construction and renovation of eldercare infrastructure will not be enough to satisfy the growing needs of an ageing population. Thanks to intelligent schemes, babyboomers can finance care infrastructure partly by themselves. If official care initiatives do not need to face new tax increases that is, says Brieuc Van Damme. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 24 Oct 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/involve-babyboomers-when-financing-nursing-homes/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/involve-babyboomers-when-financing-nursing-homes/</guid>
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<title>Taxing or getting rid of fat? </title>
<description><![CDATA[ Following a new fat tax in Denmark, Brieuc Van Damme recalls the negative externalities implied by junk food and pleads for the introduction of a similar tax in Belgium. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 17 Oct 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/taxing-or-getting-rid-of-fat/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/taxing-or-getting-rid-of-fat/</guid>
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<title>Analysis: Your money or your life? A plea for more cost effectiveness analyses in Belgian healthcare. </title>
<description><![CDATA[ ]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 13 Sep 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/your-money-or-your-lifea-plea-for-more-cost-effectiveness-analyses-in-belgian-healthcare4/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/your-money-or-your-lifea-plea-for-more-cost-effectiveness-analyses-in-belgian-healthcare4/</guid>
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<title>Presentation: Your money or your life? A plea for more cost effectiveness analyses in Belgian healthcare. </title>
<description><![CDATA[ ]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 13 Sep 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/your-money-or-your-life-a-plea-for-more-cost-effectiveness-analyses-in-belgian-healthcare2/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/your-money-or-your-life-a-plea-for-more-cost-effectiveness-analyses-in-belgian-healthcare2/</guid>
<enclosure url="http://www.itinerainstitute.org/upl/1/default/doc/20110913_Your%20money%20or%20your%20life_Presentation.pdf" length="4246036" type="application/pdf" />
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<title>Your money or your life? A plea for more cost effectiveness analyses in Belgian healthcare. </title>
<description><![CDATA[ The Belgian healthcare system&#8217;s affordability is at stake. 85-90% of the expense growth can be attributed to the permanent intake of medical innovations. Only by reimbursing the technologies shown to have an acceptable relationship between costs and health effects, can we avoid to have an uncontrollable expense increase. At unchanged policy, 2/3rds of the government budget would go to the national health insurance in 2060. Lieven Annemans and Brieuc Van Damme diagnose Belgium&#8217;s cost-effectiveness policy and formulate concrete recommendations to improve it. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 13 Sep 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/your-money-or-your-life-a-plea-for-more-cost-effectiveness-analyses-in-belgian-healthcare/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/your-money-or-your-life-a-plea-for-more-cost-effectiveness-analyses-in-belgian-healthcare/</guid>
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<title>More quality for Belgium&#8217;s healthcare &#8211; Di Rupo&#8217;s note analyzed</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Now that the negotiations for a new government and a reform of the state are on the political agenda again, it is useful to analyze some specific themes of Di Rupo&#8217;s note more thoroughly. Lieven Annemans takes up the challenge for healthcare. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 24 Aug 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/more-quality-for-belgiums-healthcaredi-rupos-note-analyzed/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/more-quality-for-belgiums-healthcaredi-rupos-note-analyzed/</guid>
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<title>Plea against the degradation of our hospital financing </title>
<description><![CDATA[ Today&#8217;s hospital financing is no longer adapted to the evolutions hospital care is undergoing. Jeroen Trybou and Brieuc Van Damme plead in favor of complete transparency of the financial flows through a thorough evaluation. We also need to put an end to the wrong financial incentives. A better hospital financing will be good for your health, and in the end, that&#8217;s what it&#8217;s all about.]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 05 Jul 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/plea-against-the-degradation-of-our-hospital-financing/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/plea-against-the-degradation-of-our-hospital-financing/</guid>
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<title>Presentation Hospital Financing Event </title>
<description><![CDATA[ This is the presentation from the hospital financing event of July 5th, 2011.]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 05 Jul 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/presentation-event-hospital-financing/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/presentation-event-hospital-financing/</guid>
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<title>Towards a new organization and financing of our hospitals: what opportunities for improvement?</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Today&#8217;s hospital financing is no longer adapted to the evolutions hospital care is undergoing. This is the main conclusion of a report by Jeroen Trybou, health economics researcher at Ghent University, on behalf of Itinera. The way hospitals are being financed is not transparent and fragmented. We plead in favor of complete transparency of the financial flows. This is an essential condition for a serious debate.  ]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 04 Jul 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/towards-a-new-organization-and-financing-of-our-hospitals-what-opportunities-for-improvement/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/towards-a-new-organization-and-financing-of-our-hospitals-what-opportunities-for-improvement/</guid>
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<title>The budgetary challenge is a fundamental societal choice</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos argues that the budgetary crisis is a systemic crisis. Improving the system is therefore the only sustainable solution. That means giving priority to efficiency gains over austerity, and to tax reform over tax increases. If we want to draw the lessons from the crisis and start the future with a clean sheet, we have no choice: we need to reform structurally and strategically.]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 25 May 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-budgetary-challenge-is-a-fundamental-societal-choice/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-budgetary-challenge-is-a-fundamental-societal-choice/</guid>
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<title>Great potential for Philanthropy in Belgium </title>
<description><![CDATA[ Ivan Van de Cloot presented on the second Day of the Philanthropy the first Index of Philanthropy. This was a combined initiative of the Fondation Roi Baudouin and Itinera Institute and the analysis points to a great potential for philanthropy in our country. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 17 May 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/great-potential-for-philanthropy-in-belgium/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/great-potential-for-philanthropy-in-belgium/</guid>
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<title>How can we solve the white economy&#8217;s HR problem? </title>
<description><![CDATA[ The care sector is angry. The wages are not in line with the irregularity of the working hours. The pressure is high too. The sector needs more money and more people. This is, in a nutshell, one of the most worrisome social challenges we will have to face in the nearby future. Brieuc Van Damme analyses why supply and demand are out of balance on the &#8216;white&#8217; labor market and advances concrete policy proposals to help solving the sector&#8217;s HR problem. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 04 Apr 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/how-can-we-solve-the-white-economys-hr-problem/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/how-can-we-solve-the-white-economys-hr-problem/</guid>
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<title>Towards a more demand driven care sector</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Our policymakers only modestly take into account the aspirations of their care needing citizens. They want to have their say en be given the possibility to compose and pay for their care basket. A bigger demand injection in other words and personal care budgets will achieve just that. Foreign examples have shown that by doing so new initiatives have seen the light. Furthermore, economists expect the increased dynamism will translate into lower prices and better quality, fellow Brieuc Van Damme says.  ]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 29 Mar 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/towards-a-more-demand-driven-caresector/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/towards-a-more-demand-driven-caresector/</guid>
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<title>Palace revolution in the Flemish eldercare</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Zorgnet Vlaanderen, the most important actor in the eldercare sector, wants to do away with the renovation and construction subsidies of nursing homes. A good idea, says Brieuc Van Damme, because the VIPA subsidies are counterproductive. Instead of financing bricks, government should use the subsidies to help make quality care accessible for the poorest elders.]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 08 Mar 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/palace-revolution-in-the-flemish-eldercare/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/palace-revolution-in-the-flemish-eldercare/</guid>
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<title>Cross-border care EU: How to choose the best hospital?</title>
<description><![CDATA[ This study by the &#8216;health consumer powerhouse&#8217; makes a cross-border comparison between 5 EU countries on the disposable of information to patients by hospitals and medical institutions. Though information is increasingly available for patients, significant efforts are still to be done in order to empower the &#8216;consumer&#8217; as the key decider once facing health choices.   ]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 24 Feb 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/cross-border-care-eu-how-to-choose-the-best-hospital/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/cross-border-care-eu-how-to-choose-the-best-hospital/</guid>
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<title>Presentation:Healthcare barometer: Information to the patient: expectations and solutions for the 21st century</title>
<description><![CDATA[ ]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 22 Feb 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/presentationhealthcare-barometer-information-to-the-patientexpectations-and-solutions-for-the-21st-century/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/presentationhealthcare-barometer-information-to-the-patientexpectations-and-solutions-for-the-21st-century/</guid>
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<title>Healthcare barometer:Information to the patient: expectations and solutions for the 21st century</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Together with Knack and Le Vif, the Itinera Institute presents the results of its 2010 healthcare barometer.  Three out of four responding physicians expect patient information to be improved. Doctors want to be able to properly answer their patients when facing questions such as: &#8220;Which hospital for which pathology? How much should I get back from the social security?, etc.&#8221;  To make this happen, doctors will need necessary instruments  in order to accurately inform patients. Development of trusted and approved websites about healthcare, public computers in hospitals, a and better information and education of physicians will all be required to achieve those goals. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 21 Feb 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/healthcare-barometerinformation-to-the-patient-expectations-and-solutions-for-the-21st-century/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/healthcare-barometerinformation-to-the-patient-expectations-and-solutions-for-the-21st-century/</guid>
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<title>Healthcare opinion: how to combine quality, accessibility and effectiveness?</title>
<description><![CDATA[ The most important challenge for the future is to secure a sustainable healthcare system. Our system should hence provide the people with accessible prevention and healthcare in an efficient and equitable manner. In their analysis, Fran&#231;ois Daue and Lieven Annemans offer some recommendations to improve health policy in order to deliver the optimal health for all with disposable means.]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 09 Feb 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/healthcareopinion/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/healthcareopinion/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Healthcare: how to combine quality, accessibility and effectiveness?</title>
<description><![CDATA[ The most important challenge for the future is to secure a sustainable healthcare system. Our system should hence provide the people with accessible prevention and healthcare in an efficient and equitable manner. In their analysis, Fran&#231;ois Daue and Lieven Annemans offer some recommendations to improve health policy in order to deliver the optimal health for all with disposable means.]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 09 Feb 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/healthcare-how-to-combine-quality-accessibility-and-effectiveness/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/healthcare-how-to-combine-quality-accessibility-and-effectiveness/</guid>
</item>
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<title>Presentation: Healthcare:how to combine quality, accessibility and effectiveness?</title>
<description><![CDATA[ ]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 09 Feb 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/presentationhealthcare-how-to-combine-quality-accessibility-and-effectiveness/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/presentationhealthcare-how-to-combine-quality-accessibility-and-effectiveness/</guid>
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<title>A new institutional design for Belgium&#8217;s healthcare system</title>
<description><![CDATA[ The future organization of the system of health care and health insurance is one of the main challenges for our society. In this Re-Bel paper, Eric Schokkaert and Carine Van de Voorde first situate Belgium in the broader spectre of the large international variety in healthcare institutions. They then describe the main challenges for these systems and the way they try to cope with them. One possibility is to move in the direction of the model of regulated competition and they consider the potential desirability of that move in Belgium. Finally the issues of transparency and interpersonal solidarity in the Belgian context are discussed. A refreshing alternative in the light of Belgium&#8217;s current political negotiations. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 27 Jan 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/a-new-institutional-design-for-belgium-healthcare-system/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/a-new-institutional-design-for-belgium-healthcare-system/</guid>
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<title>Projecting future healthcare expenditures in the EU </title>
<description><![CDATA[ Predicting the future evolution of health care expenditure is one of crucial challenges facing the European Union and its Member States in the context of the demographic and social changes currently taking place. This, however, is a complex undertaking. This European Commission paper provides a comprehensive overview of the theoretical background, practical aspects of projecting health care expenditure and the actual results of the projections undertaken in the context of long-term budgetary forecasting. The model incorporates the most recent developments in demography and epidemiology and draws on new insights from health economics.]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 17 Nov 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/projecting-future-healthcare-expenditures-in-the-eu/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/projecting-future-healthcare-expenditures-in-the-eu/</guid>
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<title>Grey gold &#8211; How the babyboomers can make eldercare a success story </title>
<description><![CDATA[ The debate on ageing has been going on for quite a few years, but nothing has actually been done. The clock keeps ticking&#8230; With this book we want to stimulate the reform process, and offer a new reference frame for the debate. All too often the debate is focussed on the costs and burdens. Eldercare is more than retirement homes, homecare and care for the demented. In this book we offer concrete policy proposals on the financing of eldercare, on how the available money is best spent (we strongly believe the elderly are best placed to make such decisions, and not the care facilities), on how we can resolve the personnel shortage, and how we can prepare our houses and neighbourhoods for the 3rd age.]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 09 Nov 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/xxxxxxxxxxxx/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/xxxxxxxxxxxx/</guid>
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<title>Grey gold &#8211; How the babyboomers can make eldercare a success story: Memento </title>
<description><![CDATA[ ]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 08 Nov 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/grey-gold-how-the-babyboomers-can-make-eldercare-a-success-story/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/grey-gold-how-the-babyboomers-can-make-eldercare-a-success-story/</guid>
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<title>Grey gold:How the babyboomers can make eldercare a success story: Executive Summary </title>
<description><![CDATA[ ]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 08 Nov 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/x/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/x/</guid>
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<title>Unavoidable austerity can also be useful</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos explains why austerity is necessary and inevitable in Europe and Belgium. But the essence is smart austerity through structural reforms that have been postponed for too long. Austerity will hurt in the short run but should benefit us for ever afterwards.]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 29 Oct 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/unavoidable-austerity-can-also-be-useful/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/unavoidable-austerity-can-also-be-useful/</guid>
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<title>What healthcare benefits of a cleaner Europe? </title>
<description><![CDATA[ It is estimated in this Health and Environmental Alliance report that cleaner air in Belgium resulting from the achievement of a 30% rather than a 20% reduction in emissions would result in public health benefits of between &#8364;320 million and &#8364;923 million per year from 2020. The costs of implementing the rise to a 30% target would amount to 150% of the possible public health benefits though.]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 14 Oct 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/what-healthcare-benefits-of-a-cleaner-europe/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/what-healthcare-benefits-of-a-cleaner-europe/</guid>
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<title>Information on quality of care: lessons from abroad</title>
<description><![CDATA[ The Itinera Institute offers a platform to Pierre-Yves Geoffard, professor at the Paris School of Economics. He discusses the inequality in access to the health system which is more than a matter of money: the access to information on the quality of care also plays a big role. Despite the development of specific health IT, communication of this information remains poor. In France, different initiatives have been launched to improve the access to information on the quality of care and to help spread the key indicators. What lessons can we learn from France? How can we improve the access to this information?
]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 20 Sep 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/geoffard/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/geoffard/</guid>
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<title>Decline is the alternative for reform and austerity</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos criticizes the unions&#8217; demonstration against pension reform and austerity. Working longer is crucial to absorbing the enormous demographic shift, to keeping pensions affordable and decent and to balancing the solidarity between the generations. Obstinate resistance postpones the necessary until it becomes inevitable and very painful.]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 15 Sep 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/decline-is-the-alternative-for-reform-and-austerity/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/decline-is-the-alternative-for-reform-and-austerity/</guid>
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<title>The crisis is our collective failure</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos explains how the budgetary crisis is our collective failure: neglect prior to the crisis and self-interest after the crisis. The morality of our crisis tale is that we have the duty to pass on the economy in better health to the next generation. Austerity to improve and by improving is the key ingredient of successful fiscal consolidation.]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 09 Sep 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-crisis-is-our-collective-failure/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-crisis-is-our-collective-failure/</guid>
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<title>The rise of the health economy: challenges, opportunities and options for reform</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Demographic, scientific and technological evolutions are increasingly putting financial strain on Belgium&#8217;s healthcare system. Both public and private healthcare expenditures are on the rise. Without thorough, structural reforms we risk the unfortunate but inevitable decline of a system previously renowned for its quality and accessibility. The purpose of this article is to offer some food for thought on healthcare policy reform in Belgium. We will focus on new roles for all the actors of the healthcare system, new financial and non-financial incentives for the healthcare providers and organisations to accept and expand these new roles, and a broader (horizontal?) reorganisation of the system placing the patient and the pathology at its very core (also known as the continuum of care). In their conclusion, Marc De Vos and Brieuc Van Damme plead for a better reflection on healthcare funding.]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 17 Aug 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/xxxx/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/xxxx/</guid>
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<item>
<title>Propositions for a sustainable healthcare system</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Although Western Europe&#8217;s healthcare systems are of relatively high quality, they face a number of threats regarding their financial sustainability.  In this respect, a much debated topic in Belgium has been the legally anchored growth rate of 4,5% in the healthcare budget.  This note by the French Institut Montaigne suggests three main fields of reform for the coming years: reinventing health insurance, improving the access to an adapted healthcare and assessing the quality of healthcare.]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 26 Jul 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/propositions-for-a-sustainable-healthcare-system/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/propositions-for-a-sustainable-healthcare-system/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Policy reform is ageing&#8217;s real challenge</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos vents his frustration at the occasion of the umpteenth annual report of Belgian Commission on Ageing. The preparation for Ageing has simply failed. The figures do not match. Only strong policy reform and a clear growth strategy can save us. We do not need commissions that calculate budgets, but rather commissions that advise on reform.]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 07 Jul 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/policy-reform-is-ageing-real-challenge/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/policy-reform-is-ageing-real-challenge/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>The price of health</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Health is our most valuable good. No wonder we do everything to preserve our psychological and physical integrity, whatever the cost. But because of budgetary frontiers, our social security will not be able to reimburse all the new treatments to come. Brieuc Van Damme pleads for an objective evaluation of medical treatments based on the generated gains for public health. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 22 Jun 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-price-of-health/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-price-of-health/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Change the nomenclature for the reimbursement of medical expenses</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Not available in this language]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 15 Jun 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/change-the-nomenclature-for-the-reimbursement-of-medical-expenses/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/change-the-nomenclature-for-the-reimbursement-of-medical-expenses/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Create a coordinating body which puts the patient first and which aligns all parties involved</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Not available in this language]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 15 Jun 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/create-a-coordinating-body-which-puts-the-patient-first-and-which-aligns-all-parties-involved/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/create-a-coordinating-body-which-puts-the-patient-first-and-which-aligns-all-parties-involved/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Double the IT budget in healthcare</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Not available in this language]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 15 Jun 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/double-the-it-budget-in-healthcare/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/double-the-it-budget-in-healthcare/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Hospitals must specialize in surgery where they reach a critical mass</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Not available in this language]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 15 Jun 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/hospitals-must-specialize-in-surgery-where-they-reach-a-critical-mass/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/hospitals-must-specialize-in-surgery-where-they-reach-a-critical-mass/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Dedicate at least an extra 100 milion euros per year to prevention</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Not available in this language]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 14 Jun 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/elk-jaar-minstens-100-miljoen-euro-extra-besteden-aan-preventie/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/elk-jaar-minstens-100-miljoen-euro-extra-besteden-aan-preventie/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Give absolute priority to obesity</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Not available in this language]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 14 Jun 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/absolute-voorrang-geven-aan-de-strijd-tegen-de-zwaarlijvigheid/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/absolute-voorrang-geven-aan-de-strijd-tegen-de-zwaarlijvigheid/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Train all health workers in the economics of healthcare, in management and in IT </title>
<description><![CDATA[ Not available in this language]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 14 Jun 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/train-all-health-workers-in-the-economics-of-healthcare-in-management-and-in-it/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/train-all-health-workers-in-the-economics-of-healthcare-in-management-and-in-it/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Draw up a long term strategic plan for the health sector, managed by the government</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Not available in this language]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 10 Jun 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/plan/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/plan/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Publish the data on the quality of hospitals </title>
<description><![CDATA[ Not available in this language]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 10 Jun 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/publish-the-data-on-the-quality-of-hospitals/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/publish-the-data-on-the-quality-of-hospitals/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Austerity through reform in public governance and in healthcare</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos supports the austerity goals but stresses that austerity needs to be tied to clever and structural reform. Linear cost reduction is the easy way that will not necessarily yield effective public governance and efficient healthcare. Structural reform can turn the crisis into a great opportunity.]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 07 Jun 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/austerity-through-reform-in-public-governance-and-in-healthcare/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/austerity-through-reform-in-public-governance-and-in-healthcare/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>The figures of realism on budget and ageing</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos explains how Belgium faces a daunting budgetary challenge, with major austerity in the short-run and the need for budget surpluses in the medium term. At the same time, structural reforms in social security are inevitable and economic potential must improve, while state reform will crown it all. The following government will be on of blood, sweat, toil, and tears.]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 21 May 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-figures-of-realism-on-budget-and-ageing/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-figures-of-realism-on-budget-and-ageing/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Belgian chocolate and pharmaceutical innovation </title>
<description><![CDATA[ Innovation is important for Belgium&#8217;s healthcare system. Fran&#231;ois Daue discusses the innovation initiatives and legal evolutions of the beginning of the year. From this analysis he develops three minimal dimensions for a more global reflexion and an integrated innovation policy. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 04 May 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/belgian-chocolate-and-pharmaceutical-innovation/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/belgian-chocolate-and-pharmaceutical-innovation/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Effective ways to realise policy reforms in health systems</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Sometimes it is argued that the content of a reform is less important in determining whether or not it receives public and legislative approval than the timing of the proposal; the way in which the reform is presented; the discussions with stakeholders; and a multitude of other factors. This OECD report studies the factors lying behind successful implementation of reforms in health systems.]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 21 Apr 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/effective-ways-to-realise-policy-reforms-in-health-systems/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/effective-ways-to-realise-policy-reforms-in-health-systems/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Effectively fighting obesity </title>
<description><![CDATA[ In an attempt to contain rising trends in obesity and associated chronic diseases, many governments have implemented a range of policies to promote healthy lifestyles. Evaluations of the cost-effectiveness and distributional impacts of such interventions are rare and narrow in terms of numbers of options considered. In this report, an economic analysis was developed jointly by the OECD and the WHO with the aim of strengthening the existing evidence-base on the efficiency of interventions to tackle unhealthy diets and sedentary lifestyles.]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 21 Apr 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/effectively-fighting-obesity/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/effectively-fighting-obesity/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Wealthcare or healthcare?</title>
<description><![CDATA[ After the US, the debate about Belgium&#8217;s cost efficiency in healthcare can begin. The rise of the &#8216;health economy&#8217;, spectacularly increasing public and private expenditures for healthcare, is the next step of our economic development process. This will compel us to make important choices. Brieuc Van Damme pleads for the creation of a High Authority for Healthcare that would have to make sure that the scarce resources are only being invested when public health truly benefits. 

]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 19 Apr 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/wealthcare-or-healthcare/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/wealthcare-or-healthcare/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Obesity can damage the environment</title>
<description><![CDATA[ On average, Belgians are getting heavier and our body mass index keeps increasing, new research showed us. On top of the healthcare and budgetary costs, there are obesity-related costs that we often tend to forget, says Brieuc Van Damme, those for the environment. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 16 Apr 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/obesity-can-damage-the-environment/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/obesity-can-damage-the-environment/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Interview with the new Senior Fellows</title>
<description><![CDATA[ The Itinera Institute attracted 3 new Senior Fellows, all specialists in their field. What made them take this step?Lieven Annemans, Dave Sinardet and Etienne de Callata&#255; explain.]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 15 Apr 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/interview-with-the-new-senior-fellows/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/interview-with-the-new-senior-fellows/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Poverty and Health: proposals and solutions</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Poverty and bad health often go hand in hand. But it does not have to so. Lieven Annemans makes some recommendations to improve the situation.]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 15 Apr 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/poverty-and-health-proposals-and-solutions/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/poverty-and-health-proposals-and-solutions/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Scientific support of our federal healthcare policy</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Recently, Belgium&#8217;s Court of Audit submitted a report on the scientific support of our federal healthcare policy to the Parliament. The report examines if and how the federal government has put into place a research system, how it works and is being financed, its capacity, output and the way in which government makes use of all this knowledge. Now that &#8216;evidence based medecine&#8217; is becoming standard, it&#8217;s legitimate to ask for &#8216;evidence based policy making&#8217; too. This, however, has not been the case in Belgium so far.]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 23 Mar 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/scientific-support-of-our-federal-healthcare-policy/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/scientific-support-of-our-federal-healthcare-policy/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>International benchmarking of healthcare quality</title>
<description><![CDATA[ There is growing interest in the systematic assessment and international benchmarking of quality of care provided in different healthcare systems, and major work is under way to support this process through the development and validation of quality indicators that can be used internationally. This is not an easy thing to do, as cross-national data comparison remains a challenge. This RAND report focuses on the three quality domains, namely effectiveness of care, patient safety and patient experience. The objective is to assess the causes underlying international differences and determining what actions may be appropriate to take to improve health outcomes.]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 22 Mar 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/international-benchmarking-of-healthcare-quality/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/international-benchmarking-of-healthcare-quality/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>The healthcare sector: daring to look at 2020</title>
<description><![CDATA[ With two interesting studies in less than two months, 2010 promises to become a fascinating year for Belgian healthcare. The ideas presented in these studies are appealing for two reasons: first because the authors reason in the middle and long term, and second because they dare questioning the current way of working. One thing is sure: the future needs a new vision and new solutions. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 04 Mar 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-healthcare-sector-daring-to-look-at-2020/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-healthcare-sector-daring-to-look-at-2020/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Clear diagnosis, uncertain remedy</title>
<description><![CDATA[ The private health economy is on the rise and, paradoxically, may have been encouraged by public authorities. Governments want to spur private insurance in the hope of solving three big problems bedevilling their national systems of health care: inadequate access to care; soaring costs; and a paucity of innovation. They hope thus to improve their citizens&#8217; health without tearing more holes in tattered public finances. According to this article from The Economist, evidence so far suggests that relying on private insurance may help in some respects. But it will not solve all these problems, and may even be making some of them worse.]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 24 Feb 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/clear-diagnosis-uncertain-remedy/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/clear-diagnosis-uncertain-remedy/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Social security as a tool, not as a goal</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos reflects about the necessity of a welfare state reform. We can create a breathing space by realizing that social protection can do without social security.  Social protection has an economic future. Acting for this future also means acting for the future of social security. Social security can improve if we consider it as a tool and not as a goal on itself.]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 24 Feb 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/social-security-as-a-tool-not-as-a-goal/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/social-security-as-a-tool-not-as-a-goal/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Obesity is first and foremost a social problem</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Sometimes one hears obese people are responsible for their weight problem, this weight problem for a climate problem, and therefore obese people are responsible for a climate problem. Of course, this syllogism doesn&#8217;t make sense, as obesity is a social problem in the first place, says Brieuc Van Damme. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 19 Feb 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/obesity-is-first-and-foremost-a-social-problem/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/obesity-is-first-and-foremost-a-social-problem/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Financing home nursing in Belgium</title>
<description><![CDATA[ An ageing population will also increase the demand for home nursing. Home nursing expenses represent 4% of the public health insurance budget, and with an average growth rate of 7%, the yearly increase is about 1% higher than that of the general healthcare expenses. According to the authors of the centre of expertise, its financing should be reformed, which necessarily implies rethinking the role of the different healthcare functions. To do so, more coordination at the different policy levels will be required. Today&#8217;s mixed financing could be carried on, if optimized. The authors also advocate an actualization of the nomenclature, the integration of a quality component and a more accurate measuring of care dependency.]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 15 Feb 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/financing-home-nursing-in-belgium/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/financing-home-nursing-in-belgium/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>All-inclusive case based hospital financing</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Which hospital financing system can better reach the healthcare system&#8217;s objectives of performance, equity and quality? This KCE report studies an all-in case based hospital financing system and its feasibility in Belgium where the system is said partial and fragmentary. After a presentation of the structure of the Belgian hospital sector and the characteristics of its financing system, this report uses some models to analyze the consequences of such a reform on the hospital revenue structure, the relationship between hospital management and providers of healthcare, and the quality and accessibility to healthcare.]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 03 Feb 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/all-inclusive-case-based-hospital-financing/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/all-inclusive-case-based-hospital-financing/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>The US Health Insurance Reform Debate</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Following a synopsis of the main problems that confront U.S. health care and insurance, this AEI report outlines the health care reform bills in the U.S. House and Senate, including the key provisions for expanding and regulating health insurance, and projections of the proposals&#8217; costs, funding, and impact on the number of people with insurance. The report concludes by contrasting the reform bills with market-oriented proposals and with brief perspective on future developments. A must-read for those of you interested in the US healthcare debate!]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 19 Jan 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-us-health-insurance-reform-debate/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-us-health-insurance-reform-debate/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Video: Sick Funds: new roles in the long run?</title>
<description><![CDATA[ ]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 16 Dec 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/video-sick-funds-new-roles-in-the-long-run/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/video-sick-funds-new-roles-in-the-long-run/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Pay for Quality in healthcare: an evaluation</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Pay for Quality (P4Q) is the mechanism by which the remuneration of a healthcare service directly depends on the achieved results in terms of structure, processes and/or outcome indicators. Interest for P4Q is growing, in Belgium and abroad. What are the effects and side effects of P4Q programs? What are the necessary conditions to apply international P4Q models or to add P4Q components to already existing Belgian initiatives? This report of the Centre of Excellence makes a thorough evaluation of Pay for Quality programs.]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 15 Dec 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/pay-for-quality-in-healthcare-an-evaluation/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/pay-for-quality-in-healthcare-an-evaluation/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Sick Funds: new roles in the long run?</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Fran&#231;ois Daue explores a couple of ideas on possible new roles for the sick funds, to ensure a sustainable, accessible and affordable health system. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 03 Dec 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/what-are-the-new-challenges-for-sick-funds-for-the-30-years-to-come-what-are-their-strengths-and-weaknesses-how-do-we-translate-this-into-opportunities-and-concrete-projects-and-how-do-we-initiate-change/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/what-are-the-new-challenges-for-sick-funds-for-the-30-years-to-come-what-are-their-strengths-and-weaknesses-how-do-we-translate-this-into-opportunities-and-concrete-projects-and-how-do-we-initiate-change/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Presentation: Sick funds: new roles in the long run?</title>
<description><![CDATA[ What are the new challenges for sick funds for the 30 years to come? What are their strengths and weaknesses? How do we translate this into opportunities and concrete projects, and how do we initiate change? 
Fran&#231;ois Daue explores a couple of ideas on possible new roles for the sick funds, to ensure a sustainable, accessible and affordable health system. 
]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 02 Dec 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/presentationsick-funds-new-roles-in-the-long-run/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/presentationsick-funds-new-roles-in-the-long-run/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Organisation of palliative care in Belgium</title>
<description><![CDATA[ A palliative patient is a person that is in an advanced or terminal phase of a serious, progressive and life-threatening disease. But a patient&#8217;s status is currently being determined on the basis of his or her remaining life expectancy, while researchers from the Federal Knowledge centre think that the optimal criterion should be a person&#8217;s needs, because many patients would rather be looked after and pass away at home. Also, the training of healthcare professionals is essential according to the report, and the focus should be on communication skills and a multidisciplinary approach for high quality and dignified care to be achieved.]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/organisation-of-palliative-care-in-belgium/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/organisation-of-palliative-care-in-belgium/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Obesity, at what price?</title>
<description><![CDATA[ In the United States, one out of three adults is obese (BMI&gt;30) and another third of the adult population is overweight (BMI&gt;25). In Belgium, almost half of the adult population is either overweight or obese, compared to one out of five children. The healthcare costs for obesity are rising spectacularly. Obesity represents 10% of the American healthcare expenses or 1,6% of GDP. Budgetary obesity is more important than ageing, and until 2022 that will not change. Obesity is a difficult issue for policy makers. Given that obesity is mainly the consequence of technological developments; a policy that focuses on the food component only is doomed to fail. Experiments with local communities show that programs that intensively promote a healthy lifestyle (healthy food, a lot of physical exercise) can yield encouraging results. The cost of these campaigns could be financed by typical obesity taxes, such as a soft drink tax.]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/obesity-at-what-price/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/obesity-at-what-price/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Are health problems systemic? </title>
<description><![CDATA[ Industrialised countries face similar challenges for improving the performance of their health system. Nevertheless the nature and intensity of the reforms required are largely determined by each country&#8217;s basic social security model. This IRDES paper looks at the main differences in performance of five countries and reviews their recent reform experience, focusing on three questions: Are there systematic differences in performance of Beveridge and Bismarck-type systems? What are the key parameters of health care system which underlie these differences? Have recent reforms been effective?]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/are-health-problems-systemic/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/are-health-problems-systemic/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Optimistic but worried about recent evolutions in healthcare</title>
<description><![CDATA[ The last week of October was full of interesting healthcare news: the publication of an interesting study by the National Institute for Health Insurance, alarming signals from the Plan bureau and the latest events in the healthcare soap, made in USA. Fran&#231;ois Daue discusses. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/optimistic-but-worried-about-recent-evolutions-in-healthcare/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/optimistic-but-worried-about-recent-evolutions-in-healthcare/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Policy for orphan diseases and orphan drugs</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Because they are so rare, orphan diseases are often neglected by the industry and the scientific, medical and political world. Nonetheless, successful programs have been built up to stimulate the development of the so called &#8216;orphan drugs&#8217;. Their aim is often to compensate the industry for the high risk and the potentially lower return on investment due to the small amount of patients. In this KCE study the authors compare the Belgian orphan drugs repayment system with other countries, estimate its budgetary impact and formulate policy recommendations for improvement.]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/policy-for-orphan-diseases-and-orphan-drugs/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/policy-for-orphan-diseases-and-orphan-drugs/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Health IT: learn from your neighbours</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Greater use of information technology (IT) in health care can help achieve many health care reform goals. Health IT can improve the effectiveness and efficiency of health care by reducing costs, improving the quality of care, and increasing access to health care services and information. Health IT also empowers individuals to better manage their own health care and enables them to communicate more easily with their health care providers. Finally, health IT increasingly serves as the foundation for medical research. However, progress in the adoption of health IT varies significantly between nations. The purpose of this ITIF report is to identify which countries are leading in the deployment of health IT and to draw lessons that might be useful for other countries.]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/health-it-learn-from-your-neighbours/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/health-it-learn-from-your-neighbours/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>The crisis: an opportunity for our healthcare? </title>
<description><![CDATA[ In view of the difficult budgetary negotiations the debate about the healthcare expenditure growth rate is everywhere. For some, a more modest rate stands for the beginning of the end of a solidary social security; for others the status quo will condemn our welfare state to bankruptcy. Difficult to say who will be right. What we know for sure, however, is that this extraordinary budgetary crisis is an extraordinary opportunity to discuss, without taboos, about a sustainable future for our healthcare. And the controversial growth rate will certainly be part of the debate. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 29 Sep 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-crisis-an-opportunity-of-our-healthcare/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-crisis-an-opportunity-of-our-healthcare/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Addressing healthcare spending growth</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Reducing the growth of healthcare spending is the ambition of the Obama administration. On top of the longed extended coverage and an equivalent quality of care one can say the President is very ambitious indeed. As identifying specific, feasible steps that can achieve these goals have proven to be difficult, one could wonder whether President Obama has not been too ambitious. This report from Brookings gives a hand and advances a couple of effective steps to address long-term healthcare spending growth. And although the American system is very different from ours, many of the proposed reforms should (and hopefully will) inspire Belgium&#8217;s policy-makers too.]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/addressing-healthcare-spending-growth/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/addressing-healthcare-spending-growth/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>How satisfied are the Flemish with their healthcare provisions? </title>
<description><![CDATA[ Traditionally, Belgian healthcare&#8217;s strengths are its quality, accessibility and availability. But how do the Flemish perceive their healthcare provisions themselves? And what factors, on the individual level (education, place of residence, age,&#8230;) as well as on the supply-side level (financing, choice, quality,&#8230;), influence that perception? This report from the research department of the Flemish government analysed it and compared the Flemish Community with the rest of the EU member states. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 14 Sep 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/how-satisfied-are-the-flemish-with-their-healthcare-provisions/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/how-satisfied-are-the-flemish-with-their-healthcare-provisions/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Don&#8217;t let the gatekeepers of our healthcare system escape!</title>
<description><![CDATA[ The profession of general practitioner (GP) doesn&#8217;t appeal to students anymore and we&#8217;re about to face a shortage &#8211; a serious problem. Yet, making the profession of GP more attractive is good for both our GPs and our social security budget, as the gatekeepers of our healthcare system can prevent us from paying for more expensive, but unnecessary, treatments. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 26 Aug 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/dont-let-the-gatekeepers-of-our-healthcare-system-escape/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/dont-let-the-gatekeepers-of-our-healthcare-system-escape/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Learning to be healthier</title>
<description><![CDATA[ There are a number of potential mechanisms, both direct and indirect, through which involvement in education and training may improve health outcomes. Participation in learning activities may improve health outcomes by improving employment prospects, for example. Learning may also have benefits in terms of improving attitudes to and competencies for engaging in positive health behaviours and making best use of health services. This Institute for Employment Studies report considers the evidence in relation to these, and other, potential mechanisms.]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 17 Aug 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/learning-to-be-healthier/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/learning-to-be-healthier/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Is obesity becoming a threat for the American economic hegemony?</title>
<description><![CDATA[ The obesity epidemic is spreading out. The United-States has already spent 1.6% of their GDP to the healthcare bill related to the consequences of obesity. If this evolution becomes more intense, obesity could influence American geopolitical relationships in the long run.]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 12 Aug 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/is-obesity-becoming-a-threat-for-the-american-economic-hegemony/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/is-obesity-becoming-a-threat-for-the-american-economic-hegemony/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Belgian healthcare needs an American revolution</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos explains how American and Belgian healthcare have the same characteristics and challenges in common. Belgium can learn from the reform debate in the US. We are in a denial state about the necessity for another healthcare. Here also, healthcare effectiveness, efficiency and quality have to be a central concern.]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 27 Jul 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/belgian-healthcare-needs-an-american-revolution/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/belgian-healthcare-needs-an-american-revolution/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Why We Must Ration Health Care</title>
<description><![CDATA[ How much would you be willing to pay to live longer? Probably a lot. Now, how much would you want your insurer to pay for a drug or treatment that adds a year to someone&#8217;s life? Probably much less. Implicitly, we&#8217;re applying monetary considerations to saving lives, but is it immoral to do so? According to the controversial Australian philosopher Peter Singer, it is not, as health care is a scarce resource, and all scarce resources are rationed in one way or another. This is a must-read article!]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 17 Jul 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/why-we-must-ration-health-care/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/why-we-must-ration-health-care/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Education and obesity</title>
<description><![CDATA[ An epidemic of obesity has been developing in virtually all OECD countries over the last 30 years. Research suggests that such epidemic has affected certain social groups more than others. In particular, education appears to be associated with a lower likelihood of obesity. This OECD working paper finds linear relationship between the number of years spent in full-time education and the probability of obesity. Moreover, the researchers were able to ascertain that the direction of causality appears to run mostly from education to obesity. Will education and information proven to be the solution for one of our most important health challenges? ]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/education-and-obesity/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/education-and-obesity/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Electronic prescriptions, in Belgium soon</title>
<description><![CDATA[ There&#8217;s some good news from the healthcare sector: a pilot project for electronic prescriptions is on its way. Electronic prescriptions offer more security to the patient, improve the quality of care and push down costs. Fran&#231;ois Daue and Brieuc Van Damme hope this project will be as successful as in Sweden where net benefits are estimated to reach 97 million euros annually. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/electronic-prescriptions-in-belgium-soon/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/electronic-prescriptions-in-belgium-soon/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>What a Texas town can teach us about healthcare costs</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Healthcare expenditures vary a lot between countries, and even between regions within countries. The US for example spends per capita almost three times as much as Finland. Yet health outcomes between most industrialized countries are roughly the same. In his search for an explanation, Doctor Gawande from the New Yorker travels to McAllen, Texas, one of the most expensive healthcare markets on earth. Written like a real whodunit, the article discusses different plausible explanations for these differences in expenditures and ends with some important recommendations in order to keep them under control. A must-read for all healthcare professionals!]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 26 Jun 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/what-a-texas-town-can-teach-us-about-healthcare-costs/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/what-a-texas-town-can-teach-us-about-healthcare-costs/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Information vs. Choice, or the Belgian healthcare paradox</title>
<description><![CDATA[ The patient&#8217;s role in our healthcare system is evolving to a more active one. The purpose is to have the patient chose its providers more consciously. This dynamic force is believed to benefit the system as a whole as long as high quality information is easily accessible to patients. Fran&#231;ois Daue and Brieuc Van Damme are disappointed that this isn&#8217;t the case in Belgium&#8230; .]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 25 Jun 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/information-vs-choice/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/information-vs-choice/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>The Day After: what are the regional policy priorities for 2009-2014</title>
<description><![CDATA[ The regional elections of 2009 should be a turning point. Due to the economic crisis, the budgetary crisis and the institutional crisis, Belgian&#8217;s regions are faced with new responsibilities.
Now that the votes are counted, the multitude of electoral promises can make way for the reality of negotiations. The Itinera Institute determined 7 regional policy priorities and formulated concrete proposals.
]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-day-after-what-are-the-regional-policy-priorities-for-2009-2014/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-day-after-what-are-the-regional-policy-priorities-for-2009-2014/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Presentation: the day after: what are the regional policy priorities 2009-2014?</title>
<description><![CDATA[ The regional elections of 2009 should be a turning point. Due to the economic crisis, the budgetary crisis and the institutional crisis, Belgian&#8217;s regions are faced with new responsibilities.
Now that the votes are counted, the multitude of electoral promises can make way for the reality of negotiations. The Itinera Institute determined 7 regional policy priorities and formulated concrete proposals.

]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 08 Jun 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/ppt/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/ppt/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Executive summary :the day after: what are the regional policy priorities for 2009-2014?</title>
<description><![CDATA[ The regional elections of 2009 should be a turning point. Due to the economic crisis, the budgetary crisis and the institutional crisis, Belgian&#8217;s regions are faced with new responsibilities.
Now that the votes are counted, the multitude of electoral promises can make way for the reality of negotiations. The Itinera Institute determined 7 regional policy priorities and formulated concrete proposals.
]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/executive-summary-the-day-after-what-are-the-regional-policy-priorities-for-2009-2014/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/executive-summary-the-day-after-what-are-the-regional-policy-priorities-for-2009-2014/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Managing the health effects of climate change</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Fossil fuels have contributed to huge improvements in global health and development over the past 100 years. Paradoxically, because their consumption is to a large extend responsible for climate change, they now represent the biggest global health threat of the 21st century through changing patterns of disease, water and food insecurity, vulnerable shelter and human settlements, etc., says this Lancet Commissions report. An integrated and multidisciplinary approach to reduce the adverse health effects of climate change requires policies must be adopted to reduce carbon emissions and to increase carbon biosequestration; action should be taken on the events linking climate change to disease; and appropriate public health systems should be put into place to deal with adverse outcomes.]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 28 May 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/managing-the-health-effects-of-climate-change/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/managing-the-health-effects-of-climate-change/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Measuring quality of healthcare</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Only what can be measured can be improved. This is no different for the quality of healthcare. Information on healthcare quality (is this provider or that physician capable of efficiently treating this pathology?), and therefore its communication, is almost inexistent. This is why the Institut Montaigne formulates 7 concrete propositions to efficiently measure the quality of care and to communicate the results of these evaluations to the public. The aim is, of course, to introduce a virtuous dynamic which will ensure equal access and efficiency. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 20 May 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/measuring-quality-of-healthcare/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/measuring-quality-of-healthcare/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Managed Competion in Health Care</title>
<description><![CDATA[ ]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 08 May 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/competition/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/competition/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Forum: Managed competition in Health Care</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Since 2006 all Dutch citizens have to buy standardized individual health insurance coverage from a private insurer. Consumers have an annual choice among insurers, and insurers can selectively contract or integrate with health care providers. Subsidies make health insurance affordable for everyone. A Risk Equalization Fund compensates insurers for enrollees with predictably high medical expenses. Competing insurers are supposed to be(come) the prudent buyers of care on behalf of their insured. Although the reform of the health insurance market was a major achievement, the complementary reform of the provision market has only just begun, and is likely to be at least as complicated. The development of  the insurers&#8217; role as prudent purchasers of care is still work-in-progress. The challenge is now to successfully reform the market for the provision of health care.]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 07 May 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/forum-managed-competition-in-health-care/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/forum-managed-competition-in-health-care/</guid>
<enclosure url="http://www.itinerainstitute.org/upl/1/default/doc/forum%20HA%202008%20Universal%20mandatory%20HI%20in%20the%20Netherlands%20%20draft%2024jan08.pdf" length="171297" type="application/pdf" />
</item>
<item>
<title>Presentation:Managed Competion in Health Care: still work in progress</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Since 2006 all Dutch citizens have to buy standardized individual health insurance coverage from a private insurer. Consumers have an annual choice among insurers, and insurers can selectively contract or integrate with health care providers. Subsidies make health insurance affordable for everyone. A Risk Equalization Fund compensates insurers for enrollees with predictably high medical expenses. Competing insurers are supposed to be(come) the prudent buyers of care on behalf of their insured. Although the reform of the health insurance market was a major achievement, the complementary reform of the provision market has only just begun, and is likely to be at least as complicated. The development of  the insurers&#8217; role as prudent purchasers of care is still work-in-progress. The challenge is now to successfully reform the market for the provision of health care.]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 07 May 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/managed-competion-in-health-care-still-work-in-progress/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/managed-competion-in-health-care-still-work-in-progress/</guid>
<enclosure url="http://www.itinerainstitute.org/upl/1/default/doc/Microsoft%20PowerPoint%20-%20PPT%20website.pdf" length="117204" type="application/pdf" />
</item>
<item>
<title>European Quality of Life Survey</title>
<description><![CDATA[ This survey from Eurofound gives European citizens the opportunity to express themselves on different socio-economic topics such as income and living standards, work-life balance, quality of society, healthcare and housing. This allows us to evaluate the quality of life throughout Europe better and to think about relevant policy measures in meeting people&#8217;s needs. We can also find inspiration here from what is going better abroad, particularly in the Nordic countries.]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 05 May 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/european-quality-of-life-survey/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/european-quality-of-life-survey/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Empowering Belgian patients</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Where in Europe are the patient&#8217;s rights best respected and where is patient information best developed? According to this report from the Health Consumer Powerhouse, Belgian patients are, with a sad 13th place, far from the most empowered in Europe. In patient empowerment, not only money matters &#8211; instead the issue is about will and the perception of whom the healthcare system really aims to serve. In the aging Europe there is a growing need to involve patients and consumers in the healthcare processes, to balance demand to resources.]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 27 Apr 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/empowering-belgian-patients/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/empowering-belgian-patients/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Unmet healthcare needs in Belgium</title>
<description><![CDATA[ How do citizens perceive their health and the access to health care in their country? This question is the scope of this Eurostat article in which European citizens were asked whether they felt they had had unmet medical needs in examination or treatment. Although Belgium is the country with the lowest perceived unmet needs, the most important reason for this is that the respondents could not afford it or thought it was too expensive. The accessibility of our healthcare system has always been one of strengths. Let&#8217;s reform our healthcare system now to make sure this strengths doesn&#8217;t erode over time.  ]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 27 Apr 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/unmet-healthcare-needs-in-belgium/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/unmet-healthcare-needs-in-belgium/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Put a non budgetary cap on healthcare expenses</title>
<description><![CDATA[ We should put a cap on healthcare expenses. The debate on healthcare reforms should be much wider than on setting the optimal expense level. A growing healthcare sector will create tremendous economic opportunities, Brieuc Van Damme and Ivan Van de Cloot argue. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 20 Apr 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/put-a-non-budgetary-cap-on-healthcare-expenses/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/put-a-non-budgetary-cap-on-healthcare-expenses/</guid>
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<item>
<title>Budgetary obsession is destined to fail in this century of the health economy</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos recognizes that the growth rates of public expenditures for healthcare are untenable. But he also stresses that no budgetary policy will be able to cover the needs of this century of the health economy with public means alone. We have to address the organisation of healthcare itself.]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 17 Apr 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/budgetary-obsession-is-destined-to-fail-in-this-century-of-the-health-economy/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/budgetary-obsession-is-destined-to-fail-in-this-century-of-the-health-economy/</guid>
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<item>
<title>Paradigms of future health care organization in Belgium</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Belgium&#8217;s budgetary policy is again crumbling across the board. Marc De Vos and Brieuc Van Damme point out that healthcare policy has been dominated by budgetary concerns for years. Yet, the budget keeps on skyrocketing while the key challenge is increasingly to provide healthcare that is both affordable and accessible, while being of high quality. The authors indicate some directions with potential: increasing investments in ICT, improving coordination and integration between the stakeholders, and a real debate on a multi-pillar structure. Healthcare risks becoming unsustainable without pragmatic but fundamental reform.]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 27 Mar 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/paradigms-of-future-health-care-organization-in-belgium/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/paradigms-of-future-health-care-organization-in-belgium/</guid>
<enclosure url="http://www.itinerainstitute.org/upl/1/default/doc/MEMO08_Breaking%20the%20deadlock_MDV+BVD.pdf" length="410346" type="application/pdf" />
</item>
<item>
<title>Paradigms of future health care organization in Belgium: presentation</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Belgium&#8217;s budgetary policy is again crumbling across the board. Marc De Vos and Brieuc Van Damme point out that healthcare policy has been dominated by budgetary concerns for years. Yet, the budget keeps on skyrocketing while the key challenge is increasingly to provide healthcare that is both affordable and accessible, while being of high quality. The authors indicate some directions with potential: increasing investments in ICT, improving coordination and integration between the stakeholders, and a real debate on a multi-pillar structure. Healthcare risks becoming unsustainable without pragmatic but fundamental reform.]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 27 Mar 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/paradigms-of-future-health-care-organization-in-belgium-presentation/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/paradigms-of-future-health-care-organization-in-belgium-presentation/</guid>
<enclosure url="http://www.itinerainstitute.org/upl/1/default/doc/Presentation_Breaking%20the%20budgetary%20deadlock_MDV+BVD.pdf" length="1494342" type="application/pdf" />
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<title>Health Care, lifestyle and individual responsibility</title>
<description><![CDATA[ In many countries a healthy lifestyle is expected to become a criterion in obtaining healthcare services. As we understand lifestyle as a merely individual matter, what could be the consequences for health care if individual responsibility would be a key principle in allocating health care services? We will illustrate the ethical and philosophical relevance of this question with the case of obesity.]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 20 Mar 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/health-care-lifestyle-and-individual-responsibility/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/health-care-lifestyle-and-individual-responsibility/</guid>
<enclosure url="http://www.itinerainstitute.org/upl/1/default/doc/Microsoft%20Word%20-%20Memo%20Health%20care%20lifes%20and%20ind%20resp(1).pdf" length="310691" type="application/pdf" />
</item>
<item>
<title>Health care, lifestyle and individual responsibility: presentation</title>
<description><![CDATA[ In many countries a healthy lifestyle is expected to become a criterion in obtaining healthcare services. As we understand lifestyle as a merely individual matter, what could be the consequences for health care if individual responsibility would be a key principle in allocating health care services?Ignaas Devisch illustrates the ethical and philosophical relevance of this question with the case of obesity.Yvonne Denier reflects.
]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 20 Mar 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/health-care-lifestyle-and-individual-responsibility-presentation/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/health-care-lifestyle-and-individual-responsibility-presentation/</guid>
<enclosure url="http://www.itinerainstitute.org/upl/1/default/doc/Microsoft%20PowerPoint%20-%20final%20PPT%20devisch.pdf" length="1795204" type="application/pdf" />
</item>
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<title>Revaluating the profession of general practitioner </title>
<description><![CDATA[ Brieuc Van Damme suggests measures to revalue the profession of general practitioner while strengthening our system for the healthcare challenges ahead. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 20 Mar 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/thank-you-doctor/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/thank-you-doctor/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Video Column: Health care, lifestyle and individual responsibility</title>
<description><![CDATA[ ]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 20 Mar 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/devisch/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/devisch/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Nosocomial infections in Belgium</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Nosocomial infections are problematic. These infections lengthen hospital stays, require extra diagnosis and therapies en increase mortality. The Federal Centre for Expertise computed that these cost some 400 million Euros annually. And nosocomial infections are estimated to account for 2600 deaths a year, or seven a day, the report continues. In other words, anno 2009 hospitals are three times more deadly than cars. A little cynic don&#8217;t you think? ]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 05 Mar 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/nosocomial-infections-in-belgium/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/nosocomial-infections-in-belgium/</guid>
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<title>The maximum invoice for chronic diseases: advantages and disadvantages</title>
<description><![CDATA[ This study from the Independent Mutualities finds that the classic maximum invoice has, despite its merits, one important disadvantage: the patient has to pay first and might be reimbursed later. For chronic diseases, this can be a reason to limit medical expenses. The study therefore suggests reforming the application of the maximum invoice for chronic diseases by immediately reimbursing the proportion of medical expenses payable by the patient up to a certain ceiling. This ceiling would depend on the real cost of their chronic disease.  ]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 05 Mar 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-maximum-invoice-for-chronic-diseases-advantages-and-disadvantages/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-maximum-invoice-for-chronic-diseases-advantages-and-disadvantages/</guid>
</item>
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<title>Nosocomial infections in Belgium: update</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Nosocomial infections are problematic. These infections lengthen hospital stays, require extra diagnosis and therapies en increase mortality. According to Fran&#231;ois Daue and Brieuc Van Damme the costs are underestimated in the estimations. Fortunately, several initiatives are launched abroad and at home to tackle the problem.&#8221;]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 16 Feb 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/nosocomial-infections-in-belgium-update/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/nosocomial-infections-in-belgium-update/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Are threshold values in healthcare unethical? </title>
<description><![CDATA[ When resources are scarce, making choices is unavoidable. This is no different for healthcare. Cost-effectiveness analyses inform policy makers about the cost of the societal value added of medical interventions. Economic considerations in healthcare are not unethical, this KCE report says, given that allocating resources to one program limits the resources for other programs. But contrary to countries like Great-Britain, Belgium does not use transparent threshold values yet. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 20 Jan 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/are-threshold-values-in-healthcare-unethical/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/are-threshold-values-in-healthcare-unethical/</guid>
</item>
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<title>Memento: The future of Healthcare: diagnosis and remedies </title>
<description><![CDATA[ ]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 Dec 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/memento-the-future-of-healthcare-diagnosis-and-remedies/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/memento-the-future-of-healthcare-diagnosis-and-remedies/</guid>
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<item>
<title>The Future of healthcare</title>
<description><![CDATA[ The Itinera Institute is proud to present it's new book:&quot;The future of Health Care: dariong the diagnosis &amp; treaments&quot;
The Belgian Healthcare system possesses numerous assets, but is also seriously threatened by the new challenges of the 21st century.Even if these challenges are numerous,it is not too late to act. But if we do not react on time, we won&#8217;t be able to continue to assure the access to care, its quality, while mastering its costs. To guarantee the future of our healthcare system, we suggest a set of concrete and innovative actions for a sustainable system.]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 Dec 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-future-of-healthcare/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-future-of-healthcare/</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>The future of Healthcare: diagnosis and remedies - Powerpoint presentation</title>
<description><![CDATA[ The Itinera Institute is proud to present it's new book:&quot;The future of Health Care: dariong the diagnosis &amp; treaments&quot;
The Belgian Healthcare system possesses numerous assets, but is also seriously threatened by the new challenges of the 21st century.Even if these challenges are numerous,it is not too late to act. But if we do not react on time, we won&#8217;t be able to continue to assure the access to care, its quality, while mastering its costs. To guarantee the future of our healthcare system, we suggest a set of concrete and innovative actions for a sustainable system.]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 Dec 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-future-of-healthcare-diagnosis-and-remedies-powerpoint-presentation/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-future-of-healthcare-diagnosis-and-remedies-powerpoint-presentation/</guid>
<enclosure url="http://www.itinerainstitute.org/upl/1/default/doc/Microsoft%20PowerPoint%20-%2020081217%20-%20Lecture%20-%20Version%204%20%201(1).pdf" length="3191113" type="application/pdf" />
</item>
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<title>The future of Healthcare: diagnosis and remedies - Quick wins</title>
<description><![CDATA[ The Itinera Institute is proud to present it's new book:&quot;The future of Health Care: dariong the diagnosis &amp; treaments&quot;
The Belgian Healthcare system possesses numerous assets, but is also seriously threatened by the new challenges of the 21st century.Even if these challenges are numerous,it is not too late to act. But if we do not react on time, we won&#8217;t be able to continue to assure the access to care, its quality, while mastering its costs. To guarantee the future of our healthcare system, we suggest a set of concrete and innovative actions for a sustainable system.]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 Dec 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-future-of-healthcare-diagnosis-and-remedies-quick-wins/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-future-of-healthcare-diagnosis-and-remedies-quick-wins/</guid>
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<title>Organization and quality of our health care</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Once again, the debate on the quality of our health care system is opened. During a hospital stay, the way health care is organized is often the cause of adverse effects (AE) for the patient. In this report, the Belgian Health Care Knowledge Centre uses administrative data from hospitals in order to better understand this phenomenon. Confronted with a lack of accurate data on AE, its first recommendation is aimed at improving the way data are collected and treated. And that is a recommendation we&#8217;ve encountered before.]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 05 Dec 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/organization-and-quality-of-our-health-care/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/organization-and-quality-of-our-health-care/</guid>
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<title>Giving innovative drugs a chance</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Risk-sharing schemes are a useful instrument to manage the risk of introducing innovative but expensive drugs. It is fundamental though that all involved parties (insurer &#8211; producer) work out a balanced and detailed protocol that limits potential conflicts and abuses.]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 03 Dec 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/giving-innovative-drugs-a-chance/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/giving-innovative-drugs-a-chance/</guid>
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<title>Debating thresholds in assessing health technology</title>
<description><![CDATA[ To prioritize spending of taxpayers&#8217; money on healthcare, one way is known as Health Technology Assessment (HTA). To evaluate treatments in terms of their utility, HTA institutions have measured the benefits of a treatment as the period by which one&#8217;s life is extended and improved. This may sound (too?) scientific but does not exclude making a choice on an economic threshold of a given medicine, according to this Stockholm Network paper. There is a lot of room for improving today&#8217;s threshold concept before it can actually be used, the authors argue. Thresholds would need to be made more explicit and transparent, while taking into consideration the quality of evidence for instance.]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 21 Nov 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/debating-thresholds-in-assessing-health-technology/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/debating-thresholds-in-assessing-health-technology/</guid>
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<title>Stimulating the profession of general practitioner (GP)</title>
<description><![CDATA[ The profession of GP could become a bottleneck profession. Given the estimated growth in demand for healthcare in the future this is bad news. So what factors influence attraction, recruitment and professional loyalty of GPs in Belgium then? This is the key question in this report from the Belgian Health Care Knowledge Centre. Recommendations towards the medical faculties, the working conditions and the job&#8217;s financial aspects are also made, since these appear to be decisive for GPs (to be) in the exercise of their profession. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 10 Nov 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/stimulating-the-profession-of-general-practitioner/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/stimulating-the-profession-of-general-practitioner/</guid>
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<title>Sarkozy: an inspiration for reforming the Belgian healthcare system ?</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Could Nicolas Sarkozy&#8217;s bill &#8220;H&#244;pital, patients, sant&#233;, territoire&#8221; serve as a source of inspiration for future reforms of the Belgian healthcare system? Fran&#231;ois Daue en Brieuc Van Damme critically scrutinized the text to extract its priorities and most interesting proposals for Belgium.]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 05 Nov 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/sarkozy-an-inspiration-for-reforming-the-belgian-healthcare-system/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/sarkozy-an-inspiration-for-reforming-the-belgian-healthcare-system/</guid>
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<title>In search of attention</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Publishing is vital for scientists. With the growing number of scientists, the amount of publications and scientific journals is increasing tremendously. This does not mean attention is allocated efficiently though: those who receive a lot of attention will only receive more, whether that recognition is justified or not.]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 29 Oct 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/in-search-of-attention/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/in-search-of-attention/</guid>
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<title>Obama vs. McCain: Competing Health Care Visions</title>
<description><![CDATA[ In this paper, the Council for Affordable Health Insurance gives its views on the U.S. presidential candidates&#8217; health care policies. What to do with the uninsured and how could access be improved? What do senators McCain and Obama think of transparency and price control? What are the other areas of reform? You&#8217;ll find everything about it in this short but comprehensive paper.]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 13 Oct 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/obama-vs-mccain-competing-health-care-visions/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/obama-vs-mccain-competing-health-care-visions/</guid>
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<title>Welcome to the health economy!</title>
<description><![CDATA[ We are spending an increasing amount of our budget on health care. Private as well as public health expenses are growing spectacularly: 5% on average every year over the past 25 years! What&#8217;s to blame? In fact, the main suspects are our own preferences: the richer we get the more we are willing to spend on healthcare. This NBER paper found an income elasticity for health services of 1.6, meaning that income expenditures on health care in the U.S. are likely to reach 29 percent of the GDP by 2040! This confirms earlier findings of the Belgian Plan Bureau. Welcome to the health economy!]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 06 Oct 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/welcome-to-the-health-economy/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/welcome-to-the-health-economy/</guid>
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<title> What a glass of wine can do (to one&#8217;s health)</title>
<description><![CDATA[ To evaluate one&#8217;s health, insurance companies might need to ask what one&#8217;s daily consumption of wine is. Studies have indeed shown that wine consumption and health are closely correlated. The question however remains in what direction causality goes: is wine drinking healthy or are healthy people drinking more wine? Because wine consumption is associated to a balanced and comfortable lifestyle, the latter seems more accurate: the circumstances in which one grows lives and works determine one&#8217;s health and the possibilities to fight illness and disability. So not wine, but social position create health inequalities. This World Health Organisation report scrutinizes what can be done to promote health equity in different countries, including Belgium, and suggests three principles of action to closing the gap in one generation.]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 22 Sep 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/what-a-glass-of-wine-can-do-to-ones-health/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/what-a-glass-of-wine-can-do-to-ones-health/</guid>
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<title>Patients want more voice</title>
<description><![CDATA[ This publication from the Roi Baudoin foundation is the result of a consultation which analysed the possibility for patients to be more actively involved in the Belgian health policy decision making. Foremost, patients want all patient groups to be represented in an integrated &#8211; and not fragmented &#8211; way. According to the questioned citizens, this representation would also have to be backed with extra financial means. We can only guess whether this can truly improve the quality of our healthcare system.]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 05 Sep 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/patients-want-more-voice/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/patients-want-more-voice/</guid>
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<title>Health Policy makes a difference on the labour market</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Children from disadvantaged families lag behind their classmates in terms of general development. This decreases their chances of finding a decent job and may cause a vicious cycle to emerge. The traditional focus for narrowing this gap is on better schooling and closer monitoring. This paper on the other hand, shows that health policy can also be a powerful lever. Health problems occur more frequently with children from poorer families and have, when they arise, a more negative impact on the development of the child. 
One relevant policy issue surfaces in the mean time: in frameworks such as the valuable Marshall plan for Wallonia, it is probably better to foresee, in addition to fiscal and more general economic measures, a chapter on the health problems of disadvantaged children.]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 01 Sep 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/health-policy-makes-a-difference-on-the-labour-market/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/health-policy-makes-a-difference-on-the-labour-market/</guid>
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<title>The Maximuminvoice works, but could be improved</title>
<description><![CDATA[ This KCE report shows that the maximuminvoice (MAF), according to which health care costs paid by patients are limited, still hasn&#8217;t realized its objective. The number of Belgian households who still allocate more than the proposed benchmark &#8211; i.e. 5% of the household income &#8211; to the non-refundable part of medical expenses, amounts to an important 3%. This number even goes up to 10% when supplements are taken into account. The KCE report consequently studies the background of these households, the revisions that can be made to align the results of the maximuminvoice with its initial intention and the consequences for the budget.]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 04 Aug 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-maximuminvoice-works-but-could-be-improved/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-maximuminvoice-works-but-could-be-improved/</guid>
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<title>Should public authorities subsidise external beauty?</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Figures that have recently been published by the Belgian Health Care Knowledge Centre show that health insurance spending for plastic surgery has more than doubled in only 11 years. This example serves to introduce a debate on the desirability of health expenses in general.]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 28 Jul 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/should-public-authorities-subsidise-external-beauty/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/should-public-authorities-subsidise-external-beauty/</guid>
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<title>The inflation-health multiplier</title>
<description><![CDATA[ This IZA paper investigates the possibility of intergenerational transmission of unhealthy eating habits from parents to adult children.  It is found that only maternal history influences negatively the eating behaviour of their daughters. Even more preoccupying is the fact that eating intergenerational transmission appears to be more intense amongst lower household income individuals. With the rising food prices, lower income families are very likely to shift to an unhealthier diet which will be transmitted to the following generation(s) &#8211; and thus worsening the harm. Inflation has a health component too.]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 18 Jul 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-inflation-health-multiplier/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-inflation-health-multiplier/</guid>
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<title>Private spending: the magic bullet for the healthcare funding challenge?</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Total healthcare is likely to rise in the future. According to this IPPR report, collective, public funding will remain the most efficient and equitable way of financing healthcare. Private spending plays a valid role in the health economy though but will not provide an efficient means of increasing resources for health. Policymakers should thus reform the public system first, whilst considering the contribution and efficiency of the diverse types of private healthcare spending as integral to health system strategies. 
]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 04 Jul 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/private-spending-the-magic-bullet-for-the-healthcare-funding-challenge/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/private-spending-the-magic-bullet-for-the-healthcare-funding-challenge/</guid>
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<title>To revise the financing of health insurance</title>
<description><![CDATA[ The budget of numerous European countries is not well, especially since the recent economic slowdown. The increasing health spending does not improve things. This working document of the Montaigne Institute suggests shifting over the national insurance contributions, very high in France but also in Belgium, towards other sources of financing &#8211; the income tax or the VAT for example. And this to assure the efficiency of the system &#8211; through a decrease of the labour costs notably &#8211; but above all its sustainability. Unfortunately, the weakest of our society risk losing there, and it is indeed for that that the authors defend a cautious estimation before shifting everything.]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 20 Jun 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/to-revise-the-financing-of-the-health-insurance/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/to-revise-the-financing-of-the-health-insurance/</guid>
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<title>Measuring and interpreting cross-country hospital efficiency</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Identifying the best practices in hospital performances by measuring cross- country differences is becoming increasingly important. Very useful indeed, but definitely not easy, claims this OECD working paper. The authors suggest here that cross-country hospital efficiency differences might be linked to institutional factors. Also within Belgium hospital performance differences are known to be important, which suggests windows of opportunity for efficiency improvements.]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 09 Jun 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/measuring-and-interpreting-cross-country-hospital-efficiency/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/measuring-and-interpreting-cross-country-hospital-efficiency/</guid>
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<title>Design principles for a patient-centered market</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Another way to enhance the healthcare system's quality is the &quot;patient-focused&quot; or &quot;consumer-centered&quot; approach. The aim of this Heritage Foundation study is to clarify these trendy, but often misused concepts. Six key principles were identified in which the freedom of choice and the transparency of the system seem to be crucial. Whilst Belgium is performing rather well in terms of choice, it should also realize that access to information is a key element of a system's quality. 
]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 16 May 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/design-principles-for-a-patient-centered-market/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/design-principles-for-a-patient-centered-market/</guid>
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<title>How to improve the quality of our general medicine?</title>
<description><![CDATA[ A recent report of The Itinera Institute underlined the necessity to focus on the quality of the Belgian healthcare system. By leaning on a certain number of convincing international experiences, this report of the KCE tries to identify potential ways to improve our general medicine. For example, we can quote the case of the United Kingdom, which offers bonuses to the general practitioners having achieved the required objectives. But the report also mentions non-financial measures which seem interesting. For examples, the Australian government invested in professional networks whereas The Netherlands set up a robust program of practice accreditation.
]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 16 May 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/how-to-improve-the-quality-of-our-general-medicine/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/how-to-improve-the-quality-of-our-general-medicine/</guid>
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<title>Ageing&#8217;s collateral damage: how to face a generalist shortage?</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Health Tracking predicts that population growth and ageing will lead to deficits of adult care generalists and will increase their workload. The foundations of primary care for adults in the States as well as in Belgium are endangered in other words. But increasing today&#8217;s availability of generalists is not that simple &#8211; employers, insurers, and government as well as medical education have roles to play. Financial incentives to students, commitment to education of generalists and the abolition of the numerus clausus are considered to be promising solutions.]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 09 May 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/ageings-collateral-damage-how-to-face-a-generalist-shortage/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/ageings-collateral-damage-how-to-face-a-generalist-shortage/</guid>
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<title>The future of health: an economic constitution?</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Demand for healthcare and healthcare services changes over time. According to this Reform report, in the future, people will be asking for more qualitative and locally dispatched services. To bring about this needed structural change, taking into account the greater financial constraints, the authors advance the idea of an economic constitution. More than a mere mission statement, this constitution would be used as a reference document when evaluating new healthcare priorities and initiatives. It would also define duties for legislator and providers, such as quality, information obligations and competition. An interesting solution not to lose track of the initial objectives along the politically sensible way of structural change.]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 09 May 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-future-of-health-an-economic-constitution/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-future-of-health-an-economic-constitution/</guid>
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<title>Inform to heal better</title>
<description><![CDATA[ According to the Belgian Ministry of Health hospital-acquired infections kill 2500 to 3000 people per year and cost more than 100 million a year only in extra hospitalisation days. There are, however, no official, disaggregated figures about one of the most underestimated problems of our modern health care. This study presents official figures for Pennsylvania based on individual hospital reports over time &#8211; which allows for comparisons. By informing patients with such detailed information, peer pressure increases. This enhances inter-hospital competition which is expected to have a direct positive impact on the quality of healthcare. Informing the patient being Belgium&#8217;s Achilles tendon, coming up with this report should be interpreted as more than just a hint...]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 30 Apr 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/inform-to-heal-better/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/inform-to-heal-better/</guid>
</item>
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<title>How healthy is the Belgian healthcare system?</title>
<description><![CDATA[ The Belgian healthcare system has important assets. The system is nonetheless threatened by many factors when confronted with the challenges of the XXIst century. This publication shows that the budgetary priority of the past 25 years will be largely insufficient for the future. New priority setting is a necessity and will have to go hand in hand with a real middle and long term vision that is non existent today.]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 29 Apr 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/how-healthy-is-the-belgian-healthcare-system/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/how-healthy-is-the-belgian-healthcare-system/</guid>
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<item>
<title>How healthy is the Belgian healthcare system? Presentation</title>
<description><![CDATA[ The Belgian healthcare system has important assets. The system is nonetheless threatened by many factors when confronted with the challenges of the XXIst century. This presentation shows that the budgetary priority of the past 25 years will be largely insufficient for the future. New priority setting is a necessity and will have to go hand in hand with a real middle and long term vision that is non existent today.]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 29 Apr 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/how-healthy-is-the-belgian-healthcare-system-presentation/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/how-healthy-is-the-belgian-healthcare-system-presentation/</guid>
</item>
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<title>The Cancer Plan needs more than a budget only!</title>
<description><![CDATA[ A budget of 380 million euros has been freed for the Cancer Plan for the period 2008-2010. This testifies of a middle-term vision. It would be an error to think this plan guarantees results though. The Cancer Plan needs more than only a budget to be successful. Four basic conditions have to be fulfilled: prevention, collaboration, mobilisation of all the actors and finally innovation. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 27 Mar 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-cancer-plan-needs-more-than-a-budget-only/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-cancer-plan-needs-more-than-a-budget-only/</guid>
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<item>
<title>Is a smoking ban efficient?</title>
<description><![CDATA[ From July 1 2008 onwards the Dutch hotel and catering industry will be smoke-free. This CPB study provides a cost-benefit analysis of the smoking ban and compares the policy to a less drastic alternative, improved ventilation. Both the costs and the benefits of a smoking ban depend upon health gains, i.e. higher pension costs and higher costs for care in the extra life years. The authors conclude that, in comparison with the current policy of self-regulation in the hotel and catering industry, the benefits of the smoking ban exceed its costs by more than 75 million euros. The results confirm those from other studies realised in the United Kingdom.    
]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 21 Feb 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/isasmokingbanefficient/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/isasmokingbanefficient/</guid>
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<title>Technological change expands health care capabilities at a budgetary cost</title>
<description><![CDATA[ As in Belgium, health care costs in the United States have grown substantially for decades and are expected to continue to grow in the future. For the US federal government, rising health care costs constitute the primary challenge of fiscal policy. But also private payers have experienced similar growth in costs. This Congressional Budget Office (CBO) paper describes the historical growth in spending on health care in the United States. It examines the factors that determine this evolution and gives special emphasis to the largest single factor driving spending growth &#8212;the greatly expanded capabilities of medicine brought about by technological advances in medical science over the past several decades. Finally, the paper discusses the implications of continued technological change for future growth of health care spending.
]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 06 Feb 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/technological-change-expands-health-care-capabilities-at-a-budgetary-cost/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/technological-change-expands-health-care-capabilities-at-a-budgetary-cost/</guid>
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<title>Unequal (un)healthy: Not all Belgians are equal in health</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Health inequality in Belgium is much larger than generally perceived. For example, a low-skilled person dies on average three to five years earlier than a high-skilled and can even expect 18 to 25 years less healthy years than a high-skilled. Whereas a number of European countries recently developed strategic and action-oriented plans to reduce health inequalities, an integrated policy strategy is lacking in Belgium. In this report the King Baudouin Foundation gives recommendations to all governments in Belgium to realise a fairer division of chances on health. The authors plead for example for more resources for first line care, for more attention for a healthy life style and a healthy environment, and for the establishment of an action-oriented policy co-ordination centre for equality in health.]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 06 Feb 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/unequal-unhealthy-not-all-belgians-are-equal-in-health/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/unequal-unhealthy-not-all-belgians-are-equal-in-health/</guid>
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<title>Ageing is not a fatality</title>
<description><![CDATA[ In our country ageing is seen as a threat for our pensions and health system. According to the Institut Montaigne ageing is not a fatality. Another approach more offensive is possible. As far as this is concerned, Japan might be a good example. Following the Japanese example, Montaigne gives 8 concrete propositions in order to transform ageing into a potential source of growth. Among others, Montaigne proposes to develop a more dynamic labour market for young seniors by abolishing the age limit and all the early retirement mechanisms. According to the authors the healthcare system must also change. A possible solution is to act in favor of cheaper solutions such as home care.  
Transforming ageing into an opportunity is necessary in order to face tomorrow&#8217;s challenges.]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 09 Jan 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/ageing-is-not-a-fatality/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/ageing-is-not-a-fatality/</guid>
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<title>Healthcare spending under pressure</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Ageing is putting an extra pressure on healthcare spending. U.S. health spending is projected to increase of 25 % between 2006 and 2016 (from 16 percent of GDP to 20 percent). This Commonwealth Fund Commission on a High Performance Health System paper examines federal policy options that have the potential to lower health spending relative to projected trends. They include policies that would: produce and use better information for health care decision-making, promote health and enhance disease prevention, align financial incentives with quality and efficiency, and correct price signals in health care markets.
Some of these options are also useful for Belgium. Indeed, according the Belgian Commission on Ageing, the percentage of Belgian public spending allocated to healthcare will increase of more than 15% between 2004 and 2020.]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 26 Dec 2007 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/healthcare-spending-under-pressure/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/healthcare-spending-under-pressure/</guid>
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<title>Belgians assess their healthcare system</title>
<description><![CDATA[ How do the Belgians perceive their Healthcare system? The insurance company DKV answers this question in its National Health Survey. This report shows that most of the Belgians consider that the healthcare system is under pressure due to ageing. Almost half of the population also thinks that complementary insurance should be promoted. Policy makers could draw interesting lessons from this overview of the perception of healthcare by the population.]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 14 Dec 2007 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/belgians-assess-their-healthcare-system/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/belgians-assess-their-healthcare-system/</guid>
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<title>The challenges of patients' participation in Belgium</title>
<description><![CDATA[ This King Baudouin Foundation report aims to drawn a map of patients&#8217; participation into the Healthcare system in Belgium and abroad. In Belgium, patients are often organized according to a specific pathology. Most of the time, they are not well represented in advisory boards. According to the KBF, these organizations will face two mains challenges on their way to professionalisation: gaining more technocratic expertise and gathering enough financial means while remaining independent.]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 14 Dec 2007 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-challenges-of-patients-participation-in-belgium/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-challenges-of-patients-participation-in-belgium/</guid>
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<title>Will generics rescue the budget?</title>
<description><![CDATA[ With the aim of controlling health care spending, public authorities in several countries increasingly recommend the use of &#8220;generic&#8221; drugs or of therapeutic substitutes. Doctors are putted under pressure to replace some medicines with cheaper alternatives. According to this study of the Molinari Institute, this policy involves a bureaucratization of drug use that presents risks for the health of the insured and a potential increase in other health care expenses.]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 10 Dec 2007 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/will-generics-rescue-the-budget/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/will-generics-rescue-the-budget/</guid>
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<title>More for less? Efficiency of education and health care in the Group of Seven</title>
<description><![CDATA[ This IMF paper addresses the efficiency of public spending on education and health in the G7 countries. The authors find that policies and institutions are clearly associated with differences in efficiency. Public spending is less efficient in countries where budgets for education and health largely consist of wages and salaries. Lower student-teacher ratios and more autonomy of schools enhance efficiency in the education sector. With cost-increasing technological progress and ageing driving up the cost of health care, reducing inefficiencies in the health sector will be key for achieving sustainable fiscal policies and overcoming obstacles to international competition in G7 countries. Belgium is not included in the analysis, but can definitely learn on the performance of educational and healthcare systems from this cross-country study on the Group of Seven.]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 29 Nov 2007 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/more-for-less-efficiency-of-education-and-health-care-in-the-group-of-seven/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/more-for-less-efficiency-of-education-and-health-care-in-the-group-of-seven/</guid>
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<title>Is the Belgian healthcare system declining?</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Belgium looses 3 places at the Euro Health Consumer Index published by Health Consumer Powerhouse, dropping from rank 7 to rank 10. This barometer compares the relative performance of 29 European countries with respect to 5 criteria&#8217;s: patient rights and information, waiting time for treatment, outcomes and generosity, pharmaceuticals. This is an interesting comparative report showing that Belgium &#8220;champions at accessibility but suffers on outcome quality&#8221;. Together with a reflexion on necessary reforms, this report from the Health Consumer Powerhouse is a good benchmark.]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 26 Oct 2007 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/is-the-belgian-healthcare-system-declining/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/is-the-belgian-healthcare-system-declining/</guid>
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<title>Belgian healthcare policy is not adapted to grey migration.</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Migration and ageing are no isolated phenomena: immigrants/foreigners are increasingly part of the collective ageing of our society, causing new integration problems. This study of the King Baudouin Foundation investigates the impact of this evolution on both the host community and people of foreign origin. In terms of social assistance, health care and social protection, host country Belgium has not always carried out the adaptations which the migrant population considers as crucial. The study warns for &#8220;copy-pasting&#8221; our own model of elderly care. Autonomy is an important value for elderly of foreign origin, whereas indigenous elderly rather consider the feeling of familial &#8220;dependence&#8221; as vital.]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 01 Oct 2007 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/grey-migration/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/grey-migration/</guid>
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<title>The richer you are, the longer you live!</title>
<description><![CDATA[ The more people earn, the longer they are likely to live. Analysing a broad swathe of data on several million pensioners, the authors of this study find large differentials in remaining life expectancy at age 65 across classes of lifetime earnings in Germany. More specifically, they put a lower bound of fifty percent (six years) on the difference from the lowest to the highest income group. Between the two extremes, life expectancy rises linearly in earnings. Despite lower overall mortality in West Germany than in East Germany, life expectancies are similar within income groups. The authors establish the relationship between higher income and higher life expectancy, but do not investigate the real causes of this relationship.]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 01 Oct 2007 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/high-income-pensioners-live-longer/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/high-income-pensioners-live-longer/</guid>
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<title>Can competition improve healthcare performance?</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Could market mechanisms be used to improve health care systems efficiency without threatening equity or quality? This report makes several propositions of reforms, mainly based on the implementation of tougher competition between health suppliers in order to give them incentives to deliver their services at a lower cost. Among these propositions, the authors suggest a better integration between health insurers and providers of health care. This question is of particular interest in Belgium where experts often point out the lack of means of control of insurers over health providers.]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 20 Sep 2007 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/competition-and-choice-in-health-care-delivery/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/competition-and-choice-in-health-care-delivery/</guid>
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<title>Toward a more substantial disease prevention policy&#8230;</title>
<description><![CDATA[ There is a substantial difference between the financial resources allocated to disease prevention and treatments in Belgium. The Communities, responsible in the matter of disease prevention, have indeed few incentives to implement programs which benefits are only apparent in the long run and which are mainly profitable to the federal government, in charge of health care reimbursements. Some financing policies could however lead to an improved public investment in the matter of disease prevention.]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 16 Aug 2007 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/toward-a-more-substantial-disease-prevention-policy/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/toward-a-more-substantial-disease-prevention-policy/</guid>
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<title>Ageing but healthy</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Ageing hangs as the Sword of Damocles over the current governmental negotiations. Marc De Vos explains that the impact of ageing is also caused by the ageing of the working-age population, which is not beneficial to future innovation and productivity. On the other hand, the ageing workforce is ever healthier and better trained. We need to grasp that opportunity to capitalize on the benefits of ageing.]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 17 Jul 2007 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/ageing-but-healthy/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/ageing-but-healthy/</guid>
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<title>Evidence Based inhoud van geschreven informatie vanuit de farmaceutische industrie aan huisartsen</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Physicians have a crucial role to play in the definition of medical treatments financed by health authorities. It is therefore essential to give them a correct information. A study realized by the Belgian Health Care Knowledge Centre suggests that the information provided to physicians by the pharmaceutical sector is rather commercial than scientific and call thus for a better practice.]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 04 Jul 2007 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/evidence-based-inhoud-van-geschreven-informatie/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/evidence-based-inhoud-van-geschreven-informatie/</guid>
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<title>Health in Europe: A Strategic Approach. Discussion Document for a Health Strategy.</title>
<description><![CDATA[ At the end of 2006, the European Commission launched a consultation process from all European Countries. This consultation was to enable stakeholders to provide input into how a new health strategy should be developed and implemented. The consultation ended in February 2007. This document gives us the very interesting results for the new strategy: priorities, objectives, implementation, involvement of member states and other stakeholders.]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 29 Jun 2007 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/health-in-europe-a-strategic-approach-document-for-health-strategy/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/health-in-europe-a-strategic-approach-document-for-health-strategy/</guid>
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<title>The Future and Affordability of Belgian Health Care</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Marc De Vos reflects on the evolutions and the future of the Belgian health care system in a speech to medical students.]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 30 Mar 2007 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-future-and-affordability-of-belgian-health-care/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-future-and-affordability-of-belgian-health-care/</guid>
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<title>The Misguided War against Medicines</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Is Big Pharma to blame for healthcare explosion? Can we blame the patent policy of the pharmaceutical sector for the failure of government health insurance to remain financially stable? Brett Skinner and Mark Rovere from the Fraser Institute address this question for Canada and come up with an alternative explanation.]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Feb 2007 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/misguided-war-against-medicines/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/misguided-war-against-medicines/</guid>
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<title>The Future Hospital: The progressive Case for Change</title>
<description><![CDATA[ What role for hospitals in healthcare reform? Hospitals are local institutions and implementing changes can be politically difficult. Given the dynamics of healthcare, however, hospital change is inevitable. The Institute for Public Policy Research focuses on the objectives and the process of hospital change. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 01 Jan 2007 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-future-hospital-the-progressive-case-for-change/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-future-hospital-the-progressive-case-for-change/</guid>
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<title>Economic Effects of Germany&#8217;s Reference Pricing Policy for Drugs</title>
<description><![CDATA[ More on the effects of price regulation for drugs. One of the main instruments used by the UK Health Department to control National Health Service (NHS) expenditure on branded drugs is the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme (PPRS). The Office of Fair Trading now doubts the efficiency of the scheme and proposes value based price financing as the better alternative. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 01 Dec 2006 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/economic-effects-germanys-reference-pricing-policy-for-drugs/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/economic-effects-germanys-reference-pricing-policy-for-drugs/</guid>
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<title>How Healthy is Belgium&#8217;s Health Care?</title>
<description><![CDATA[ Belgian's health care system is in transition. Marc De Vos identifies negative trends that may turn into gradual decline in the absence of genuine reform.]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 24 Nov 2006 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/how-healthy-is-belgium-s-health-care/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/how-healthy-is-belgium-s-health-care/</guid>
<enclosure url="http://www.itinerainstitute.org/upl/1/default/doc/Nota22_Health_Care.pdf" length="40479" type="application/pdf" />
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<title>The Economic Cost of Obesity</title>
<description><![CDATA[ The analysis provided by Access Economics shows how obesity is weighting on society&#8217;s welfare and estimates to AU$21.0 billion (&#8364;13.05 billion) its total cost in Australia in 2005. This total cost includes the financial cost (loss productivity, health system cost, indirect costs,&#8230;) as well as and an estimation of the intangible cost (loss of wellbeing) associated to obesity. These data are particularly interesting for public authorities in charge of health policies in Belgium where the prevalence of obesity is growing: 20% to 30% of the Belgian population is now estimated to be obese. It could thus be useful to use this analysis to evaluate all the benefits associated to a program that would fight obesity and therefore assess whether such a program is worth implementing.]]></description>
<pubDate>Sun, 29 Oct 2006 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-economic-cost-of-obesity/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-economic-cost-of-obesity/</guid>
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<title>De Evolutie van de Uitgaven voor de Gezondheidszorg in Belgi&#235;. Een dynamisch evenwicht tussen de beheersing van de openbare uitgaven en de financi&#235;le bescherming van de pati&#235;nt</title>
<description><![CDATA[ How do health care expenditures in Belgium evolve? The Christian mutual fund (CM) seeks a dynamic equilibrium between public expenditure restraints and the financial protection of patients. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Sun, 01 Oct 2006 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/evolutie-uitgaven-gezondheidszorg-belgie-dynamisch-evenwicht-tussen-beheersing-openbare-uitgaven-financiele-bescherming-patient/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/evolutie-uitgaven-gezondheidszorg-belgie-dynamisch-evenwicht-tussen-beheersing-openbare-uitgaven-financiele-bescherming-patient/</guid>
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<title>Medicaid Makeover. Six Tough (and Unavoidable) Choices on the Road to Reform</title>
<description><![CDATA[ What can Belgium learn from cost containment programmes in other countries&#8217; healthcare systems? Deloitte formulates six questions for the Medicaid programme in the US. ]]></description>
<pubDate>Sun, 01 Oct 2006 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/medicaid-makeover-six-tough-and-unavoidable-choices-road-reform/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/medicaid-makeover-six-tough-and-unavoidable-choices-road-reform/</guid>
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<title>Doping, Rat Race and Sport Utopia</title>
<description><![CDATA[ The professional sports again received a serious blow as a result of new doping scandals. The dream of sports without doping is however a naive projection of soft goals from the civil society to the hard and meritocratic world of professional sports. The debate on doping should include the logics of the rat race concept as well as the vague boundaries between medical treatments and doping.]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 15 Aug 2006 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/doping-rat-race-and-sport-utopia/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/doping-rat-race-and-sport-utopia/</guid>
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<title>The Expanding Pharmaceutical Arsenal in the War on Cancer</title>
<description><![CDATA[ What is the impact of pharmaceutical innovation on cancer survival? Frank Lichtenberg investigates U.S. and international evidence and demonstrates the importance of access to new treatments in advancing health.]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 01 Oct 2004 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<link>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-expanding-pharmaceutical-arsenal-in-the-war-on-cancer/</link>
<guid>http://www.itinerainstitute.org/en/library/_paper/the-expanding-pharmaceutical-arsenal-in-the-war-on-cancer/</guid>
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