OECD High-Level Policy Forum: Better Policies for More Resilient Health Systems

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) will host a Ministerial Meeting on Better Policies for More Resilient Health Systems on 23 January 2024 in Paris, France and via virtual broadcast.

As the world emerges from the biggest public health emergency in more than a century, it is clear that there are lessons to be learned. The COVID-19 crisis exposed significant weaknesses in health systems, calling for urgent action to ensure that they more resilient to future shocks. At the same time, global megatrends such as climate change, demographic change and increased digitalisation will likely have significant implications for health and healthcare in the years to come.

In January 2024, Health Ministers from OECD and partner countries will come together to discuss the legacy and lessons learned from the COVID-19 crisis, the health policy challenges that lie ahead, and the actions needed to address them. The meeting will be Chaired by Belgium, with Australia, Chile, Germany, Norway and Slovenia serving as Vice-Chairs.

Highlighted agenda items include:

• Bolstering public health: Healthy populations for more resilient health systems
• The future of digital health after COVID-19
• The future of pharmaceutical policy

“Our health systems have continuously improved over recent decades, both in terms of investment and outcomes. Many have worked tirelessly to make that happen. Nevertheless, the COVID-19 pandemic was a sobering reminder: fundamental challenges on issues such as workforce, prevention and health promotion, mental health, inequalities and the supply chain of medical goods continue to put pressure on our health systems,” notes Frank Vandenbroucke, Chair of the 2024 OECD Health Ministerial Meeting. “If we want to make our health systems more future-proof, we must take these challenges seriously – especially in the context of rapid social, technological and environmental change.”

The OECD High-Level Policy Forum on The Future of People-Centred Health Innovation will take place on 22 January 2024, on the eve of the OECD Health Ministerial Meeting. The Forum will explore policies and priorities for adopting new innovations into health systems and is being organised by the OECD, in collaboration with the Commonwealth Fund and the Health Foundation and in partnership with Financial Times Live.

Please visit the OECD Ministerial Meeting page for more information and to register.