The Nordic Region and Europe need each other
The ministers agreed that the Nordic Region needs a strong Europe and that Europe needs a strong Nordic Region. Although the EU treaty specifies that health and social affairs are national matters, Nordic examples and solutions have the potential to serve as sources of inspiration for other European countries.
Membership of the EU and EEA means that the Nordic countries share a fundamental interest in the future of the internal market and in a Europe that makes social progress. The proposal for the “social pillar” contains basic principles about employment, health and social conditions. By working together and paying due respect to sovereignty issues, countries can train the spotlight on the sorts of challenges shared by most societies – combating social exclusion and guaranteeing equal access and job opportunities for all.
To guarantee that the Region remains one of the most integrated and competitive in Europe in the future, with a high degree of freedom of movement and collaboration, we need to invest in effective and necessary social initiatives to maintain and enhance the Nordic welfare societies. This is particularly relevant in a time of transitional needs in the Region, the ministers concluded.
The ministers’ priorities for health and social affairs
- Review of Nordic co-operation on social affairs
The ministers today asked the Secretary General to initiate a review of co-operation on social affairs in order to identify specific challenges and arenas in which there is potential for synergies and for working together on Nordic solutions. The meeting in Akershus requested that the 2018 Swedish Presidency of the Nordic Ministers follow-up on the report generated by this review at its meeting of ministers for health and social affairs in 2018.
- Revision of the Arjeplog Agreement
The ministers agreed to approve a revision of the Arjeplog Agreement, which entails adding provisions on exchanging information about authorised healthcare staff in order to improve cross-border co-operation and patient safety. It is envisaged that the countries will sign a revised agreement this year.
- Working together on medicine prices
Spending on medicine has risen rapidly in recent years. This is an issue discussed in many forums: the Nordic Council of Ministers, EU, OECD and WHO. The ministers agreed to work even more closely together and establish a forum for the exchange of information and experiences and for the discussion of topical questions concerning policies on medicine.
- Nordic research co-operation on health
The meeting expressed interest in a project launched by the Norwegian Presidency – Nordic Research Co-operation for Better Health 2017–2019, which they consider an important initiative. The main idea behind the project is to make it more simple and less costly for researchers in the Nordic countries to work together on the unique health data that is available in the Region and on clinical studies. This will help to speed up the process of identifying the causes of disease and developing more personalised prevention, diagnosis and treatment in health and care services. This will be of great benefit to both research and patients. The project will also form the basis for greater competition via innovations, patents and business development.
