Eurohealth: demographics and diversity in Europe – new solutions for health

Abstract

The theme of European Health Forum Gastein 2016 touches upon the very core of current European policy debates. Many of the events that are now dominating the news relate in one way or another to demographic change and increasing cultural and socioeconomic diversity in our societies. Our steadily ageing population is combined with growing migration flows. This, together with the aftermath of a financial crisis that not only hit our economies hard but also severely shook trust in our political and financial institutions, is creating dangerous waves of insecurity and fear on which several populist politicians are surfing and which may even threaten our fundamental values of solidarity and democracy. Eurohealth Observer – Reconciling demographics and diversity, Inter-culturally competent health care, Voices from Europe, Health literacy, Innovative solutions for health, Dementia, and the Life-course approach and intersectoral action; Eurohealth International – Life-course vaccination, Innovation and patient benefit, Hearing loss, and Health priorities of Slovak EU Presidency; Eurohealth Systems and Policies – Refugees and German hospital care, and Big data for health services research; and Eurohealth Monitor.