LEADER 2012_TAKING CARE OF RURAL AREAS

Our project is about developing research, innovation and experiments in order to invent what will be healthcare in 20 years. The local context is worrying regarding the diversity and quality of healthcare delivered in rural areas. However, the LAG Pays de Guéret refuses to give in to concern and believes that this context is a real opportunity to test out tomorrow’s healthcare. Within the cooperation, partners will be active think tanks and testing grounds with pro-active and pioneering approaches regarding the healthcare sector. The aim is to gather health professionals, mutual insurance companies, civil society organisations, researchers, etc in order to discuss our current healthcare system and design a new future.

The healthcare sector in rural areas is facing major challenges (demographic, social, economic) that require unprecedented answers and innovative actions to protect the right to health. Our territory is highly affected by medical desertification given the low concentration of health professionals. A data all the more worrying when linked to doctors’ age pyramid: a lot of them are over 50 years old. The concern of their renewal is serious and is notably linked to the limited attractiveness of rural areas and the changes in healthcare professions. Health services are also subject to budget cuts that reduce healthcare delivery. We are aware that, in the near future, many health services could shut down, both in public and private hospitals, generating tragic consequences for rural population.

Two levels of projects could be planned : - Hold a conference in 2013: the purpose is to discuss about our current healthcare system (challenges, strenghts and weakenesses) and invent what could be the tomorrow's healthcare system. The conference is planned every two or three years in order to build a long-term work and allow experiments and its assessments. - Implement experiments : for example, home medical care, people at risk follow-up, surveillance of chronic diseases, telemedicine, cooperation between health professionals, preventive medicine... This will mainly consists in exchanging best practices, work methods, tools and documents. Basically, the goal is pooling and sharing knowledge, expertise and experiences.

We are looking for partners all over the European Union.

Hungary, Italy, Slovenia, United Kingdom, Greece, Ireland, Sweden, Czech Republic, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Malta, Poland, Austria, Bulgaria, Estonia, Spain, Slovakia, Belgium, Germany, Finland, Romania, Cyprus, Denmark, France, Lithuania, Latvia

Spanish, English, French

New technologies and know-how, Demography, social issues

12/03/2012