Yes, says Dr. Günter Leiner, president of the European Health Forum Gastein (EHFG). Unnecessary medical treatments are being performed throughout Europe, and healthcare providers need to confront this issue head-on, according to Leiner.
In a public statement, Leiner called out hospitals for "blatant and increasing overtreatment," noting that the increasing number of surgeries was alarming and associated with "an obvious economic basis." He also said it bordered on the absurd that, at the same time, a debate was raging everywhere in Europe on the limits of affordable health services.
Leiner made these remarks prior to the annual EHFG conference being held in Bad Hofgastein, Austria, on 5-8 October. Innovation, personalized medicine, health technology assessments, and e-health are strategies that will be discussed at the conference.
At the conference, the European Commission, which is a partner in the conference, will be focusing on Europe's potential for social innovation in health, patients' access to personal health data, and active and healthy aging.
The EHFG organizers are expecting representatives from more than 40 countries to attend the conference.
