« October 22, 2006 | Main | November 1, 2006 »
October 28, 2006
Regional Conference on Cost-effective Healthcare 2006: Health Systems
Location: Singapore
Dates: 28-31 October 2006
Organiser: SGH Postgraduate Medical Institute
http://www.cehealth2006.com/
Registration
Early Registration: 31 Aug 2006
Closing Date for Registration: 15 September 2006
Cancellation Policy
Request for cancellation / replacement must be made in writing to the Conference Secretariat.
On and before 30 September 2006: 75% refund of registration fee
After 30 September 2006: No refund
All refunds will be made after the Conference.
Session Topics
- Complexity of Health Systems
- Regulatory Aspects of Health Insurance
- Pre-funding of Healthcare Expenses: The German Private Health Insurance Model
- Development of Health Insurance in Singapore
- Design of Health Insurance Plans
- Insight into Cost Quality Relationships
- Cost-effectiveness of Breast Cancer Screening
- Increasing Cost-efficiencies with Ambulatory Surgery
- Value of Recombinant Factor VIIa in Trauma Patients
- Supplier-induced Demand in Medicine — Size of the Problem
- Pricing Reimbursement and Health Outcomes
- Getting the Community Involved in Priority Setting
Pre-conference Events
- Nursing Economics Workshop — “Use of Economic Tools in Quality Management”
- Workshop — “Early Insulin Initiation in Diabetes”
Message from Organising Chairman
Our decision to bring back this forum was triggered by the enthusiasm of the delegates our first Regional Conference on Cost-effective Healthcare 2004. As the previous format was successful, we decided to run this second event along similar lines. The title “Cost-effective Healthcare” has been retained as our conference name, but we have in addition chosen “Health Systems” as the theme for this second event.
There are reasons for this choice. Maturation in national health systems has been a major contribution to improved health status in developing countries in recent decades. Alongside the economic and social development of these countries has been the impact of cross-national influences and globalization. In many countries today, policy makers are under pressure to improve their health systems in one way or another. Increasingly, patients are demanding healthcare that meets their needs and preferences, but the problem of responding to them policy-wise is that it increases cost pressure at a time of climbing health expenditure. Shortfalls in healthcare quality are also a consideration. They result in unnecessary morbidity and mortality and add to costs. Furthermore, disparities in health and healthcare access across income and other population groups is still persistent in many countries today.
Increased health spending is not necessarily a problem when the added benefits exceed the extra costs. Undeniably, the new drugs, devices and procedures that are responsible for much of the cost growth have also been responsible for better health and reduced disability. But, when the bulk of the health spending is publicly financed, rising costs will increase the pressure on government to contain costs or to divert resources from other priorities. Health systems are complex entities. Although co-payments have been used to relieve public financing systems, they are no magic bullets. Vulnerable populations need to be protected to avoid restrictions on access that could be costly in the long run. While the introduction of private health insurance can increase consumer choice and the responsiveness of health systems, it helps little to decrease public spending. State interventions in the form of regulation and subsidies are critical if equity of access is to be assured.
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. Countries have their own unique circumstances, but they all share common goals of accessible health care of high quality, and health systems that are responsive, affordable and good value for money.
Once again, we shall have much to learn from each other’s experiences in this forum.
Dr Peter Mack
Organising Chairman, Scientific Committee
Regional Conference on Cost-effective Healthcare 2006
Speakers (to date)
International
- Dr Nik Rosnah Wan Abdullah, International Institute for Public Policy and Management, University of Malaya, Malaysia
- Mr Peter Davey, Health Economics and Outcomes Research, Asia Pacific Japan, M-TAG (A division of IMS Health), Australia
- Mr Manolis Karamalis, Novo Nordisk International Operations, Switzerland
- Dr Gavin Mooney, Social and Public Health Economics Research Group, Curtin University, Australia
- Dr Glenn Salkeld, School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Australia
- Dr Eugene Salole, Guidant, Australia
- Dr Miguel A Valentin, Boston Scientific Corporation, USA
Local
- Ms Phyllis Chan, NMG Risk Managers & Actuaries, Singapore
- Dr Chan Yew Weng, Department of Anaesthesia & Surgical Intensive Care, Singapore General Hospital
- Mr Thomas Chua Kian Lye, Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Singapore
- Dr Kenneth Leong, Planning & Development Division Ministry of Health, Singapore
- Dr Li Shu Chuen, Department of Pharmacy, National University of Singapore
- Ms Genedine Lim, Health Regulation Division, Ministry of Health, Singapore
- Dr Phua Kai Hong, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore
- Mr Andres Webersinke, Cologne Reinsurance Company, Singapore
- Dr Yong Wei Sean, National Cancer Centre, Singapore Scientific Committee
Organising Chairman
- Dr Peter Mack, Department of General Surgery & SGH Postgraduate Medical Institute, Singapore General Hospital
Scientific Chairman
- Dr Phua Kai Hong, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore
Committee Members
- Dr Vincent Chong, Department of Radiology, National University Hospital
- Ms Geraldine Koh, Department of Pharmacy, Alexandra Hospital, Singapore
- Dr Li Shu Chuen, Department of Pharmacy, National University of Singapore
- Ms Genedine Lim, Health Regulation Division, Ministry of Health, Singapore
- Dr Lim Shih Hui, Department of Neurology, National Neuroscience Institute
- Dr Julian Thumboo, Department of Rheumatology & Immunology, Singapore General Hospital
Call for Abstracts: Delegates are invited to submit their abstract(s) for consideration for oral presentation.
Organising Secretariat
SGH Postgraduate Medical Institute, Singapore General Hospital
Block 6 Level 1, Outram Road, Singapore 169608
Tel: 65 6321 4491, Fax: 65 6223 9789,
Email: cehealth@sgh.com.sg
Contact: Ms Pam Wong
