THE FUTURE OF HEALTH SYSTEMS AND ORGANISATIONS
We live in a constantly evolving society facing increasingly complex challenges, to which health systems are no exception.
A framework that helps define and understand where we have come from, where we are, and especially where we want to go in future approaches to health systems is essential to facilitate their evolution.
Many countries, particularly Anglo-Saxon and Nordic ones, serve as a reference for us. We are interested in following their innovations because, fortunately, they have defined this framework and are in continuous evolution.
In our country, we do not have any “framework” to facilitate the different initiatives that are developed, which causes, in many cases, disorientation, economic losses, and what is probably more important, the disappointment and disagreement of many professionals (a clear example is primary care).
We at Innohealth Academy have humbly set out to help address this issue by organising a symposium with health experts who have contributed their talents and experience to identify, in broad strokes, the framework for the transformation we need to sustain our healthcare system.
The symposium developed of three debates:
1. Challenges for the future of health systems
Healthcare systems across Catalonia, Spain, and Europe face multifaceted challenges. Demographic shifts, social changes, evolving health paradigms, and emerging technologies like AI and AGI compel us to diagnose the current situation and develop innovative proposals to transform health systems.
2. Strengthening excellence
New leadership approaches are essential for genuine transformation within health systems. This transformation must be implemented across all management levels within health services, emphasizing managerial autonomy, skill development, and support for health professionals.
3. Economic and ecological sustainability of the health system and organisations
Strategies for healthcare system sustainability must address both financial and environmental aspects. It is essential to educate citizens about new paradigms and to radically transform healthcare professional training to meet the significant changes introduced by digitalization, artificial intelligence, robotics, and citizen empowerment in medical practice.
Keynotes and panellists
Debate 1.
Challenges for the future of health systems
This debate focused on the need for a profound transformation of the care model to face current and future challenges, including an ageing population and increasing multimorbidity. Future scenarios and the need to transform management and care models to adapt to these challenges were discussed.
Main Speakers
Patricia Arratibel Ugarte
Academic background
• Degree in Business Administration and Management, University of Deusto.
• Graduate in the Advanced Programme in Healthcare Management.
Professional experience
• Strategy consultant, KPMG Consulting, 1999-2004.
• Advisor and Director of Health Planning and Contracting, Department of Health of the Basque Government, 2004-2013.
Current position
• Director of the Institute of Health and Strategy (SI-Health).
• Director of the Health unit at Deusto Business School
Roser Fernández Alegre
Academic background
• Degree in Economics and Business Studies, University of Barcelona.
• Postgraduate degree in Health Economics and Health Services Management in Public Sector Economics, University of Barcelona,
Professional experience
• Head of the Office of the Director, Catsalut, 1991-2008.
• Secretary General, Departament de Salut de la Generalitat de Catalunya, 2010-2016.
Current position
• Director General of La Unió catalana d’Hospitals.
• President of UCFormació.
Panelists
Vicenç Martínez Ibáñez
Academic background
• PhD in Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona.
• Diploma in Senior Management in Health Institutions, IESE,.
Professional experience
• Head of Paediatric Surgery Department, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, 2004-2012.
• Director-Manager, Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos de Toledo.
Current position
• Global Advisor, WHO-WHO
Antoni Plasencia
Academic background
• Degree in Medicine and Surgery, University of Barcelona, 1981.
• Master in Public Health, Yale University, USA, 1986.
Professional experience
• Director General of Public Health of Catalonia, 2004-2011.
• Co-director of the Master’s Degree in Global Health, University of Barcelona.
Current position
• Distinguished Fellow, Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal).
• Consultant Physician, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona
Luis Miguel Martín
Academic background
• Degree in Medicine, PhD, in Medicine. Specialised in psychiatry.
• Master in Bioethics, UAB.
Professional experience
• Head of the Community Care and Special Programmes Section, INAD- Hospital del Mar.
• Assistant to the Director of the Institute of Mental Health, Hospital del Mar.
Current position
• Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Legal Medicine, UAB- UPF.
Debate 2.
Strengthening excellence
This debate focused on improving talent management, leadership, and technology adoption in healthcare organisations to ensure their excellence in patient care. It also discussed the importance of technology and its impact on high-performing organisations.
Main Speakers
Sara Manjón del solar
Academic background
• Law Degree, Specialised in Commercial, Civil and Labour Law.
• Master in business administration (M.B.A.) ESADE, Barcelona.
• Process Consultancy, AEDIPE and GR Institute for Organizational Development, Tel Aviv, Israel.
• Management Development Programme (PDD), IESE Business School.
Professional experience
• Director of Human Resources and Organisation, Consorci Hospitalari de Vic (CHV).
• Associate Professor at ESADE and UAB.
Current position
• Manager of Consorci Hospitalari de Vic
• Director of the Fundació Hospital de la Santa Creu de Vic.
Joan Barrubés Sol
Academic background
• Degree in Business Administration and Management, ESADE.
• MBA in Business Administration and Management, ESADE.
• Postgraduate degree in health management from the University of Lugano.
Professional experience
• Co-founder and Associate Director, Antares Consulting.
• Co-Director of the Master’s Degree in Healthcare Organisation Management, ESADE Business School.
Current position
• Managing Partner of Antares Consulting.
• Lecturer in healthcare management programmes at ESADE and other universities.
Panelists
Xavier Saballs i Bruell
Academic background
• Graduate in Law, University of Barcelona.
• Diploma in Catalan Civil Law.
Professional experience
• Director of Human Resources at the Hospital de Bellvitge and Consorci Sanitari del Maresme.
• Deputy Managing Director of Bellvitge Hospital and of the Girona strategic health alliance.
Current position
• Director of People at the Institut Català de la Salut (ICS).
Marisa Martí Aguasca
Academic background
• Diploma in Nursing, Autonomous University of Barcelona. Postgraduate in Intensive Nursing, and in Research Methodology, UAB.
• Postgraduate course in community nursing, UAB.
• Master in Nursing Services Management and Leadership, UB.
Professional experience
• Special Services Nurse, Hospital Clínic and Hospital de Sant Pau.
• Deputy Director, CAP Adrià, Barcelona.
Current position
• Head of Nursing Processes, AIS Barcelona Esquerra Technical Office
Santiago García Blanco
Academic background
• Telecommunications Engineer, University of the Basque Country (EHU/UPV). Executive MBA, ESEUNE.
Professional experience
• Director General of Digital Transformation, Ministry of Health of the Government of Cantabria.
• Founder of the ICT cluster TERA in Cantabria.
• Director General of the IRENE MEGIAS Meningitis Foundation
Current position
• Director of the Division for the Implementation of European Funds at the Secretary of State for Telecommunications and Digital Infrastructure of the Ministry for Digital
• Group on Digital Health of the Spanish Patients Forum and the Working
Debate 3.
Sustainability of the health system and organisations
The components of this debate made it clear that developing strategies to make health systems sustainable is essential, not only from a financial point of view but also in terms of environmental protection.
Main Speakers
Josep M. Piqué Badia
Academic background
• Degree and PhD in Medicine, University of Barcelona.
• Specialist in Gastroenterology.
Professional experience
• Head of the Gastroenterology Department, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona. Visiting Professor at the University of UCLA in Los Angeles.
• Medical Director, Deputy Director General and Director General of Hospital Clínic de Barcelona.
• Director General of the Andorran Health Care Service.
Current position
• International Senior Healthcare Consultant.
Marta Trapero Bertrán
Academic background
• Graduate in economics and business, UB.
• Master in Applied Economics, Pompeu Fabra University, 2005.
• PhD in Health Economics, Brunel University, UK 2009.
Professional experience
• President of the Health Economics Association (AES).
• Member of the Advisory Committee for the Financing of Pharmaceutical Provision of the Ministry of Health.
Current position
• Lecturer and researcher at the Department of Economics and Business, University of Lleida.
Panelists
Felip Miralles
Academic background
• Software Engineer, Polytechnic University of Valencia.
• PhD in Engineering and Advanced Technologies, University of Barcelona.
Professional experience
• Coordinator of large international R&D projects in digital health, such as CONNECARE and BackHome.
• Specialist in data analytics and telemonitoring.
Current position
• Director of the Digital Health Unit, Eurecat.
Verónica Martín Galán
Academic background
• Degree in Mathematics, University of Extremadura.
• Master’s Degree in Management of Health Organisations, University of Extremadura.
Professional experience
• Managing Director of FundeSalud, Extremadura.
• Telemedicine Coordinator of the Extremadura Health Service. President of SITT (Iberian Society of Telehealth and Telemedicine) in 2023.
Current position
• Freelance Social and Health Care Project Manager.
Ignasi Carrasco Miserachs
Academic background
• Degree in Medicine and Surgery, Autonomous University of Barcelona.
• Specialist in Internal Medicine.
Professional experience
• Responsible for research training at BSA
• Head of the Medical Division, Plató Hospital.
• Care Director of Althaia, Xarxa Assistencial i Universitària Manresa
Current position
• Director of the Healthcare Area, Servei Català de la Salut.