After kicking off in 2014 this tender, entitled ‘Pilot project on the promotion of self-care systems in the European Union’ came to an unscheduled halt in July 2015 when the team leading the Consortium, from CBO, were caught up in their parent organization becoming insolvent. The tender concept was of an eighteen month track, whereby a previous tender on cost-benefit of self-management in minor conditions led to the Commission defining six specimen minor and self-limiting conditions for which promotion and educational techniques might be developed. One of the tasks included within the tender was to create a platform of experts, representing all the relevant stakeholders, to advise on the guidelines and communication methods required as well as policy implications. After a year in limbo, while the Commission dealt with the financial implications of the failed contract, DCHE, one of the lead group were allowed to take over management of the project in September 2015 and brought it to a successful conclusion with this final conference. EHFF has supported the steering group throughout the tender period.
The programme for the final conference is here. As will be seen we were addressed by John Ryan, Director of DG Sante, but we don’t have a transcript of his encouraging address yet although a video is in preparation. What we did have was an inspirational address from a doyen of Public Health policy, Prof Ilona Kickbusch, her presentation here as well as from Prof. Bert Vrijhoef, expert in public health policy, integrated care and innovation here. The final conference presentation was from DS on the future of self-care here. For other presentations of the project outcomes, here is the link to the project website where they are available for download.