European Network of Community Health

Services Associations[ENCHSA]

Context/Operating Environment – Europe

a. Increase in health spending across Europe higher than GDP, aligned with limited resources, therefore not sustainable

b. Health inequalities still persistsc. Demand for health is outgrowing supplyd. Demographics – ageing population, increase in people living with long term conditions coupled

with growing ethnic mixe. Bio medical paradigm versus socialisation of medicine, now an emerging operating modelf. Holistic approach to health, demanding consideration for other determinants e.g. poverty, housing

etcg. Multidisciplinary approach a running theme, suggesting better collaboration among practitioners

e.g. social care integration with healthh. Movement from mass consumption of care to individualisation [personalisation]i. Social connections and citizens’ involvement and voices now core to policyj. Consumption shift from mass to individuals, era of individual self-determination, individuals in

control, mostly informed by social complexities, increased education [awareness] and influenced by IT

k. Therefore the role of the health system is to create a supporting environment that enables a sense of personal control, delivers opportunities for voicing ideas, and enables freely chosen social connection

l. New health systems and need to realise value from a new source, this new source needs nurturing, and active patients as consumers could be the source of the new values

m. Therefore meaningful community engagement is seen as part of the answer

European Network of Community Health Services Associations[ENCHSA]

The need for ENCHSA…

a. No agreed and/or common definitionb. There are some good examples outside Europe e.g. CACHCA: Canadian Alliance of

Community Health Centre Associationsc. There is the need for learning and sharing – connecting experiences, shared

problems, shared solutions, with recognition of and respect for varied policy, politics, economics and social operating contexts across Europe

d. The need for some framework and/or principles of practisee. Quality indicators, the need for…f. Limitation in capacity across Europeg. Lack of proxy measures and good indicators of ‘good practise’h. Need to reduce variations in practice across Europe

Therefore, an alliance, network, coalition…

European Network of Community Health Services Associations[ENCHSA]

European Network of Community Health Services Associations

[ENCHSA] ENCHSA…modus operandi…

The How’s…next steps…

It was proposed that, ENCHSA

a. Operates as a sub group of the European Forum for Primary Careb. Identify other ‘actors’ – organisations and individuals – and invite them to

join ENCHSAc. It will be a ‘virtual’ organisation/groupd. There is need to have a defined agenda, goals, responsibilities, terms of

reference etce. The is the need to set clear visions, mission, objectives and valuesf. Align physical meetings to existing calendars of activities, conferences etcg. Initial task/work – could be: “Towards a working definition and framework

of community health in Europe”

European Network of Community Health Services Associations[ENCHSA]