At the recent European Patients’​ Forum Congress 2025 – “Shaping the Future of Healthcare” our President, Astri Arnesen participated as a speaker at the workshop “No one left behind: equity and solidarity in cross-border crisis response”.

During the congress a major topic was the constraints within the healthcare sector as well as lack of personnel. It seems that the situation has worsened since Covid-19 and the struggle to deliver needed services is increasing. This situation makes it even more urgent to prioritise.

“We have to improve how to use the resources more targeted. According to WHO to 40% of the interventions and therapies provided are wasted! Just imagine how much this costs both patients and health care systems – 40% without positive effect and even sometimes harm. We really need to re-think how to provide more efficient health care.” said Astri, highlighting some of the major areas to improve.

➡️ HCP follow-up and share data on how an intervention is working on patients . Rasmus Møgelvang (CEO University hospital Copenhagen) highlighted how they already do this on a Nordic level through a Platform trial (https://lnkd.in/eeQHud6b )

➡️ Focus on the patient – HCP communication. More than 40% of patients don’t have trust in their HCP`s. Patients struggle to talk about what matters most to them and HCP don’t ask the right questions. The trust and good communication are crucial in order to best target the interventions.

➡️ Re-think the mechanistic view on health. A therapy or intervention works much better if the patient has trust in it and has been part of the decision. Patients are not cars; our personal trust, beliefs and retention to treatments are major factors for positive outcomes.

➡️ More targeted use of expertise and personnel. Reduce admin and reporting tasks for medical personnel. Flexible use of personnel and less silos between disciplines.