OECD published two reports that highlight central topics in health specific to each region. The report on Asia/Pacific outlines an evalution of health care over the past decade and includes new dashboards to compare health system performance across countries. The report on Europe focuses on costs incurred by mental health problems and presents a slowdown in life expectancy gains.

The Playbook is a website that help US health care providers, participating in value-based payment models, improve health outcomes for patients with complex needs. It is addressed to health system leaders, policy makers and payers and offers guidance on identifying people with complex needs, case studies on promising approaches, information about the business case, and more. Resources include peer-reviewed journal articles, case studies, step-by-step guides, and practical tips.

On December 18th, 2018 the Paris-based think-tank Digital Leaders in Health organized a conference to evaluate the impact of value-based healthcare on current challenges in healthcare systems, namely financial sustainability, ageing population with chronic conditions and sky-rocketing medical costs. Digitalization was broadly examined as part of the wining equation to help solve these factors originated by lack of data on patient-centered outcomes. Wrong payment models and lack of interoperability across services and countries, were also identified as outstanding facts together with poor Health literacy among patients, a need for a global taxonomy of international scope and an alliance with the private sector. Accelerating the pace of health system transformation by speeding up digitization of healthcare was the concluding remark and the latest report from the World Economic Forum, main contributor to the conference.

Representatives of Latin-American healthcare organizations met in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in October 2018 to discuss on Education and Health. They argued that educating people, by stimulating prevention and security, can lead to higher life expectancy levels. They supported education as a more sustainable solution than medicalization to tackle disease. To this end, countries could integrate schools of education and health, colleges and university programs to create healthy habits, raise public awareness and implement prevention policies.
Resources from the Congress on Education and Health organized by CAES (IHF Member) are available here (in Spanish).

Abstract submissions for paper presentations and posters at the 43rd IHF World Hospital Congress will be closing on 15 February. Hospitals and health service providers interested in showcasing their innovations, best practices and outstanding programs to the international community are encouraged to submit their abstracts online for any of the three sub-themes: Resilient health services, Health investment for prosperity, Innovation for health impact.

Quality Monitor (in German only) is the yearly publication of Health City Berlin, the Initiative Qualitätsmedizin (IQM) and the Scientific Institute of the AOK (WIdO) which focuses on quality of health care. The 2019 edition highlights government initiatives on hospital reform and quality reporting in Europe, the implementation of the quality agenda of the Hospital Structure Act in Germany and new findings on the relationship between frequency of treatment and treatment quality.

FHF represents almost all the French public healthcare sector. It promotes public hospitals and social care public institutions through a major annual event, the Paris Healthcare Week, through trainings for healthcare professionals and through campaigns. Also, healthcare professionals can rely on FHF resources to get advice on issues they face in their daily work. Finally, FHF partners with public authorities to elaborate proposals and assist the implementation of reforms in the hospital sector. 

​​​​​​​More information on FHF and the French healthcare system in the full bulletin below.

In France, the central government is responsible for the national strategy and the financing of health care facilities. Population health and health care are delegated to regional health agencies which represent the government. Statutory Health Insurance provides health coverage for all residents. Hospitals are funded by statutory health insurance (80%), volontary insurance and direct patient payment. Special funds are allocated to public and non-profit hospitals to cover research and teaching, and the provision of emergency services, organ harvesting and organ transplantation. About 65% of hospital care are public. Other health services facilities include services for mentally ill people, public care services and ambulatory centers.

The French Hospital Federation represents the majority of public healthcare facilities in France. It also plays a role in elaborating and implementing reforms in the hospital sector. Some of its proposals are consistent with the reforms proposed by the current French President aiming at overhauling the French health system. However, these ameliorations do not tackle the financial difficulties hospital is now facing. Another challenge globally encountered is to ensure that the largest number of citizens benefits from healthcare improvements. In this context, IHF is expected to place greater emphasis on patient-centered care in the sharing of global good practices among members, to be closer to its members to better understand their needs and enhance peer collaboration, and to be able to deliver a good insight into world health. In addition, IHF is asked for being a knowledge exchange hub where members from all the world share best practices and experiences. To this end IHF should expand and diversify its membership. 

Detailed interviews of Cédric Arcos (left photo) and Alexis Thomas (right photo) are reported in the full bulletin below. 

The Brazilian Hospital Federation has been representing the hospital sector for more than 50 years. It participates in the decision making process for the sector and also works together with other actors such as national agencies (ANS and ANVISA) and the Ministry of Health. It supports better working conditions and service quality provided by health services providers. 
FBH acts as a voice for its members, improves the efficiency of health services and promote knowledge sharing through events and publications.

Find more information on its achievement, the Qualification Program, its current priorities and its supportive role to hospitals and their leaders in the full bulletin below.