Healthcare Development with the Help of EU Funding 5 December 2008
An overview of the most significant healthcare developments implemented in three regions with the help of EU funding was presented in Kaposvár.
Healthcare services in the three least developed regions, namely, the North Hungary, South Great Plain and South Transdanubian regions, were upgraded within the framework of the National Development Plan by investing over 25 billion HUF. The Health Caravan programme series will present the results of these developments, whilst achievements and lessons learnt were summarised at the conference held in Kaposvár on 27 November.
The healthcare system has been undergoing constant change for decades; for long years we nevertheless often felt as if time had come to a standstill in certain areas. National Development Plan I aimed to address these problems, which not only opened up new opportunities and new types of EU funding for Hungary, but also introduced and disseminated a new approach in the country.
Instead of implementing decentralised developments building on local initiatives, centrally planned well-conceptualised programmes benefiting the improvement of the overall healthcare system were launched. The upgrading of the healthcare services in the three least developed regions, namely, the North Hungary, South Great Plain and South Transdanubian regions, was launched with the help of EU developments by investing over 25 billion HUF; this is equivalent to 7.31% of the overall budget of the Human Resource Development Operational Programme.
Results achieved by the projects implemented and future development opportunities were the main themes of the conference held in Kaposvár yesterday. In the first presentation, Dr Támás Székely Minister for Health talked about the efficient use of EU funding earmarked for healthcare development and future opportunities, whilst the representative of the Managing Authority for Human Resource Development Programmes reviewed the implementation of healthcare priorities.
Kaposvár was deliberately chosen as the conference venue, since the infrastructure of the hospital building was renewed and 28 new pieces of medical equipment were procured within the framework of the project "Development of screening and diagnostics priority activities in Kaposi Mór University Hospital".
The objective of the project was to develop the instrument and equipment infrastructure of the institution to improve the efficiency of the healthcare service system of the county and the region. As a result of these developments, the institution is now able to provide higher standard and more cost-efficient treatment and prevention services for the population.
Equipment used for emergency and oncological treatment, as well as diagnostics were developed through the procurement of new equipment; moreover, screening activities undertaken at the institution were also developed. Conditions for the care and treatment of patients, as well as service standards substantially improved as an impact of these investments.
Improvement in the work conditions of the routine daily work of employees – through the development of the infrastructure and procurement of modern equipment – can already be felt.
The Health Caravan, a trailer functioning as a mobile screening and testing unit, will be presenting the results achieved to the general public. The professional staff of this mobile unit assess the health status of the local population in this particular unit; naturally, health screening is provided free of charge for everyone. The following health screening and services are provided by the Health Caravan:
• digital blood pressure testing,
• cholesterol level and glycaemic testing,
• body mass index and body fat percentage measurement,
• determining heart and cardio-vascular risks,
• prevention counselling, calorie intake,
• individual counselling (e.g.: exercise, diet, consequences, individual risks).
Beyond health screening, photos and short films on local developments will also be presented in the screening trailer. Famous people, such as, sports persons, musicians, artists, writers and celebrities originating from the given local settlement will also attend specific events and take part in the health screening programme.
Health screening provided in the Health Caravan is available for anyone interested on weekends from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. – for example, on 30 November in Kaposvár.