Berlin, April 11th, 2014.
The Free Trade Agreement TTIP between the European Union and the USA is currently under negotiation and the subject of heated debate. In this context, the European Association of Hospital Managers (EAHM), points out that the hospital sector is subject to special conditions. Hospitals are part of the public services provided by the state. As a consequence, they must not be subjected to the liberalisation rules of the planned agreement. It is the conviction of the EAHM that public hospitals, health, social and emergency services, as well as the social security system, must be explicitly excluded.
One result of the liberalisation and planned investment protection clause could be the branding of hospital planning conducted by the Federal States in Germany as an arbitrary state restriction on private investment and thus placed in jeopardy. A foreign investor would have the opportunity to file a suit for inclusion in the plan. Heinz Kölking, EAHM President: “Moreover, the EAHM expects more transparency in respect of the negotiations themselves. Especially in the run-up to the EU parliamentary elections, and in the interest of all EU members, such important questions should not be discussed behind closed doors.”
(TTIP – Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership)
At its 25th Congress, to be held in Berlin between September 11th and 13th this year, the European Association of Hospital Managers will discuss current healthcare policy developments as well as the theme “The Healthcare Industry – Our Responsibility Towards People”. Around 600 hospital managers and directors from across Europe are expected.
The programme and further information can be found under www.eahm-berlin2014.de
Background:
The European Association of Hospital Managers (EAHM) is a working group composed of 24 representative hospital manager associations from European countries with around 16,000 members.
The goals of the European Association include, amongst others:
• Promoting the professional competence and the assumption of responsibility of directors and senior staff from hospital management and the hospital sector in the European countries
• Developing proposals for the integration of the hospital sector in the EU as the basis for the establishment of a “social Europe”
• Influencing EU directives that affect hospitals.
Contact
European Association of Hospital Managers (AEDH – EVKD – EAHM)
Mr Willy Heuschen
General Secretary
Boulevard du Jardin Botanique 32
1000 Brussels
BELGIUM
Telephone: +32 (0) 28887811
E-Mail: willy.heuschen@eahm.eu.org