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Open Method of Co-ordination in health care and long-term care: national report

  • Last modified date:
    1 March 2007

The Open Method of Co-ordination (OMC) in health care and long-term care is a method of sharing best practice and information between European Union Member States as they tackle common challenges. It is applied with reference to subsidiarity, respecting Member States' competence. The process initially focused on pensions and social inclusion. OMC was extended to health and long term care in 2005, following European Council Conclusions from Heads of Government.

The OMC in health care and long-term care is managed by the Social Protection Committee (SPC). This group is a forum for exchange of information and best practice between member states, and meets monthly in Brussels.  Officials from DWP and DH represent the UK at these meetings.

As part of the OMC process all EU member states have agreed to submit national strategy reports to the SPC on a biannual basis.  Previous reports have focused on pensions and social inclusion; this is the first time that health and long term care has been included.

The chapter on health and long term care highlights, at a high level, policy initiatives that are relevant to the three areas that have been identified in the SPC as being of interest to all the EU Member States.  Three overarching objectives for the report on healthcare and long-term care to focus on were agreed on in discussion between member states in the SPC:

  • ensuring access for all to adequate health and long-term care
  • ensuring quality in health and long-term care
  • ensuring that adequate and high quality health and long-term care remains affordable and financially sustainable by promoting a rational use of resources

DH is responsible for representing all UK interests at EU level, including those of the devolved administrations. Information has therefore been provided within this report on health service provision within England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, with policy leads from the devolved administrations contributing to the report.

The report was submitted to the Social Protection Committee in September 2006.  A full copy of the report is online at DWP's website.

For further information on the report please contact the EU Business, Management, and Communications Team in International Division.

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