Over the years the need for a risk assessment method based on the principle of ‘reporting without punishment’ has made itself felt more strongly in all Western countries. Such an approach could help to establish the causes of adverse events or potential risks, but it must definitely not create a situation in which patients are – firstly – exposed to risk or even harmed as a result of undergoing medical treatment and – secondly – deprived of means of redress affording the possibility of compensation without delay.

13. Calls on the Council and the Member States to evaluate and implement new measures to improve the effectiveness of their health expenditure, in particular by investing in preventive healthcare so as to reduce future longer-term costs and social burdens, and to restructure healthcare systems in order to provide equitable access to high-quality healthcare (in particular basic medical care) without discrimination throughout the EU, and encourages the Commission to study the use of existing European funds in order to further promote in ...[+++]vestment in health infrastructure, research and training and to promote and step up disease prevention;

13. Calls on the Council and the Member States to evaluate and implement new measures to improve the effectiveness of their health expenditure, in particular by investing in preventive healthcare so as to reduce future longer-term costs and social burdens, and to restructure healthcare systems in order to provide equitable access to high-quality healthcare (in particular basic medical care) without discrimination throughout the EU, and encourages the Commission to study the use of existing European funds in order to further promote in ...[+++]vestment in health infrastructure, research and training and to promote and step up disease prevention;

The quest for financial sustainability should therefore be based on the development of prevention and guidance policies so as to reduce the need for expensive treatments, on a sustainable rate of expenditure development and on improving the effectiveness of the system by means of decentralisation and involvement of the various players.

7. Believes that guidelines should include procedures to obtain treatment, sources of information about health professionals and healthcare facilities, mechanisms for paying for care, arrangements for travel and linguistic support, arrangements for continuing care, follow-up, convalescence and rehabilitation prior to or after return, complaints and other related procedures and special care for the elderly and pensioners; points out that mechanisms of payment for care should be uniform and impartial so as to avoid inequalities and the ...[+++] creation of disadvantages to certain patients;

20. Calls on Member States' governments to adopt effective measures to improve the situation of individuals in their consumption of health care and long-term care, to support improved availability of information for the general public and to enhance the conditions under which individuals can take decisions freely regarding the consumption of health care and long-term care; considers that to make this possible there is a need for a variety of care providers and for availability of information on healthy lifestyles and preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic options, and access to such information must not be restricted, especially not for the purpose of saving public re ...[+++]sources;