Block 1: Models of the Welfare State

The title of this years symposium that is organized by the European Forum Alpbach (EFA) together with the Forum of Research-Based Pharmaceutical Industry (FOPI), shows that the welfare state in the original context does not exist any longer. The discrepancy: The voter, the insured, the patient expect the best social and medical care. But the government needs to limit its benefits: The best is no longer available to everybody.

The basis of financing the health care system will further decrease due to regressive wages and increasing unemployment. At the same time the life expectancy raises by 3.2 month every year. Therefore, the economic value of the aging population is high.

Until now the politicians did not dare to ask the crucial question: How much are we willing to invest in health? The objective of this symposium is to approach this subject from two different angles: At the beginning of this symposium an international renowned group will discuss the  Models of the Welfare State from an Austrian, European and American point of view.

During the second part of the event the Austrian health care system will be discussed. Well-known politicians of all four parliamentary parties will discuss the  Perspectives of the Austrian Health Care System .
The symposium addresses decision makers of all organizations of health care politics, representatives of the industry, trade unions and medical doctors as well as media, patients´attorneys and science representatives.

Besides the official program you will find enough possibilities for opinion exchange and networking.