13:30 – 14:00 Registration

14:00 – 14:03 Opening ceremony

Moderator: Iva Šulentić

14:03 – 14:08 Welcome address & Manifesto HealthComm Forum 2024:

Nina Išek Međugorac, HealthComm Forum, Director

Speakers:

14:08 – 14:13 His Excellency Ole Henrik Frijs-Madsen, Ambassador of Kingdom of Denmark

14:13 – 14:30 Dubravka Šuica, Vice-President of the European Commission for Democracy and Demography

What are the dual challenges of aging populations and declining birth rates and how will these trends increasingly strain healthcare systems across the continent? How can we prepare ourselves for these imminent demographic challenges? How can we develop strategies that support healthy aging, improve the quality of life for the older people, and maintain the sustainability of healthcare services? These are just some of the questions that Vice-President of the European Commission Dubravka Šuica will answer, providing us with insights into the demographic trends we can expect in the near future.

Introduction of keynote speaker Ksenija Kos, MD

Moderator: Iva Šulentić

Keynote speaker: Ksenija Kos, MD, CROMed, President and Founder (USA)

Society is changing at breathtaking speeds, and so are its expectations of what healthcare is, and what it should offer to society at large. Now is the time to redefine the social contract in healthcare – but in what way?

Q&A after speech

Introduction of prof. Michael Skovdal Rathleff, dr. med., PhD

Moderator: Iva Šulentić

Special guest under the patronage of the Kingdom of Denmark: Prof. Michael Skovdal Rathleff, dr. med., PhD, Aalborg University, Denmark

What are the key challenges that lie ahead and to which healthcare must be able to respond? How will inevitable change impact the healthcare system, and how does a sustainable healthcare future looks like? What do patients want and how can we answer to their needs effectively?

Q&A

Introduction of the panelists

Moderator: Iva Šulentić

The population of Croatia is declining, and by the end of the decade almost one third of Croatians will be older than 65. We are living longer, but significantly lower number of healthy years compared to the EU average. Croatian healthcare system lags in funding and in opportunities, and new healthcare challenges push us to quicker and more innovation-focused responses. How does this challenging landscape shape healthcare purpose? And are we making efforts to start necessary discussions about the future that lies ahead, and technology we need to adapt?

Panelists:

• Ena Vitlov, AstraZeneca, Business Unit Manager BioPharmaceuticals
• Maja Vajagić, MD, Teaching Institute for Public Health “Dr. Andrija Štampar”, Specialist in public health medicine
• Prof. Ivica Lukšić, MD, PhD, Dubrava Clinical Hospital, Director
• Dražen Jurković, MD, Specialist in Public Health, M.Sc., The Association of Employers in Healthcare in Croatia (UPUZ-HR), Director
• Vesna Štefančić Martić, MD, Public Health Committee, President, Croatian Medical Chamber, Executive Board Member

Moderator: Mario Dukarić, Val grupa, Director

Introduction of the panelists

Moderator: Iva Šulentić

Humans are, in general, years away from winning the battle against some cancers and some diseases that, not that long ago, meant certain death. Can we make these outcomes a regional certainty? And what needs to be done to achieve such a promising future? And how do we shape key policies that will lead us to that?

Panelists:

• Assistant Prof. Tomislav Sokol, PhD, European parliament, Member of European Parliament, Croatia
• Ivana Kekin, MD, PhD, Croatian Parliament, Member of Croatian Parliament
• Elena Balestra, European Patient’s Forum, Head of Governance, Membership and Capacity Building
• Rajko Ostojić, MD, PhD, KBC Zagreb, Head of the Department of Internal Medicine
• Andrea Chiarello, Pfizer, Head of EU Government Affairs

Moderator: Mario Aunedi Medek, Val grupa, Director

Introduction of the panelists

Moderator: Iva Šulentić

Societal and structural changes necessitate a healthcare paradigm shift. Demographic and economic pressures demand a people-centered, resilient system to address complex challenges. Key stakeholders advocate for a sustainable healthcare system through structural reforms and innovation, emphasizing comprehensive reorganization. They agree on tracking treatment outcomes for all procedures. Modern healthcare requires accountability from all stakeholders, including often-overlooked patients, as healthcare becomes a top societal priority. Together with stakeholders, we aim to discuss and achieve a shared vision of a cutting edge modern, functional, and patient-focused healthcare system.

Panelists:

• Sani Pogorilić, Innovative Pharmaceutical Initiative (IF!), Executive Director
• Mirela Stanić-Popović, Krijesnica Association, Director, Zdravstveni opservatorij – a platform for intersectoral cooperation in healthcare, Platform Manager

Q&A

Moderator: Krešimir Macan, Public Relations Agency – Manjgura, Director & Owner

Moderator: Iva Šulentić

Moderator: Iva Šulentić

09:00 – 09:30 Registration

Opening remarks 

• Martina Bogut Barić, Ministry of Health, Chief Advisor to the Minister of Health

Moderator: Daniela Trbović

Introduction of keynote speaker Laura Cooley, PhD

Moderator: Daniela Trbović

Keynote speaker: Laura Cooley, PhD, The Journal of Patient Experience, Editor-in-Chief (USA)

Human experience encompasses the range of interactions that individuals and families have with the healthcare system, including their care from health plans, and from doctors, nurses, and staff in hospitals, physician practices, and other healthcare facilities / providers. Value-based care considers the actual health and experience outcomes in relationship to the cost associated with achieving those outcomes. Value-based organizations and providers who communicate effectively and establish trusting relationships enable better outcomes and experiences. When individuals are more engaged in their health and care they follow their treatment plans and experience fewer costly hospitalizations and services.

Q&A after keynote presentation

Introduction of the panelists

Moderator: Daniela Trbović

Innovative healthcare means empowering nurses for ongoing oncology support, crucial for effective patient care. Croatia faces a surge in oncology cases and with highly educated nurses along the oncology specialists there is an enormous potential to improve treatment outcomes. By equipping nurses with specialized training and support, they can play a more proactive role in treatment and patient perseverance. Join us as we explore how enhancing nurses’ roles can revolutionize oncology in Croatia, using breast cancer as a model for broader improvements in cancer care.

Panelists:

• Jasminka Miličević, M.M.T., KBC Zagreb, Head Nurse of the Oncology Clinic, Croatian Society of Oncology Nurses and Technicians, President
• Prof. Stjepko Pleština, MD, PhD, KBC Zagreb, Head of the Department of Gastrointestinal Tumors, Head of Department of Oncology, Deputy Director, Croatian Society for Medical Oncology, President
• Prof. Natalija Dedić Plavetić, MD, PhD, KBC Zagreb, Head of the Oncology Clinic’s Polyclinic
• Katarina Rukavina Kantarević, Nismo same Association, Author, Patient
• Snježana Krpeta, univ. mag. med. tech., Ministry of Health, Special Advisor to the Minister of Health for Nursing Affairs

Moderator:  Kristina Laco, Komunikacijski ured Colić, Laco i partneri (Colić, Laco & Partners Communications Office), co-founder

Introduction of the lecturer

Moderator: Daniela Trbović

Vanesa Benković, PhD, Novo Nordisk, Public Affairs & Market Access Director

What is the financial burden on the healthcare system budget resulting from obesity and diabetes? The economic impacts of these health issues can be surprisingly high, but we can mitigate that impact through proactive prevention and treatment strategies.

Introduction of the panelists

Moderator: Daniela Trbović

Prevention, timely diagnosis, and proper treatment save money and other resources and involve patients in monitoring the outcomes of possible treatment procedures. These are the first steps and foundations for developing a sustainable healthcare system and healthy nations. Now is a good time to discuss the best approach to managing patient-centered outcomes for the 22nd century!

Panelists:

• Martina Bogut Barić, Ministry of Health, Chief Advisor to the Minister of Health
• Ivana Portolan Pajić, MD, Ministry of Health, Head of the Sector for Primary Health Care and Health Tourism
• Samija Ropar, MD, Croatian Medical Chamber (HLK), Adviser of the President
• Katarina Gvozdanović, MSc. Med. Biochem., Teaching Institute for Public Health “Dr. Andrija Štampar”, Senior Professional Advisor in the Department of Pharmacoepidemiology

Moderator: Ivica Belina, Coalition of Associations in Healthcare (KUZ), President

Introduction of lecturer Krešimir Antonio Paliska

Moderator: Daniela Trbović

Krešimir Antonio Paliska, AACI Healthcare Ltd., Executive Director, Senior Vice President

Accreditation of healthcare institutions is one of the mechanisms that enables the establishment of quality standards and raising the overall level of quality in healthcare. But what exactly does accreditation mean, which parameters do we observe, and how do we create good examples – which will then move the entire system forward?

Introduction of the panelists

Moderator: Daniela Trbović

Modern healthcare requires innovation, as well as centers of excellence with the infrastructure that can fully utilize their potential for the best possible patient outcomes. What do we measure, how do we measure it, and why is it important? What does accreditation mean for managing the healthcare system, and what does it mean for patients? And what does a healthcare reform look like that is based on measuring clinical outcomes, establishing centers of excellence, and data-driven management?

Panelists:

• Boris Lukovnjak, Roche, Patient Journey Partner Lead
• Igor Šegović, MD, Čakovec General Hospital, Director
• Sandra Karabatić, KBC Zagreb, Institute for Lung and Mediastinal Tumors, Chief Nurse
• Ivana Portolan Pajić, MD, Ministry of Health, Head of the Sector for Primary Health Care and Health Tourism

Moderator: Krešimir Antonio Paliska, AACI Healthcare Ltd., Executive Director, Senior Vice President

Introduction of Vedran Boljat

Moderator: Daniela Trbović

Pharma You Believe In: Peter Pan Fairytale or Inevitable Disruption of Existing Business Model

Four years ago, the World Economic Forum (WEF) introduced a new paradigm of equity ownership known as stakeholder capitalism. The basic premise is simple: companies need to share their profits with all its stakeholders instead of, as usual, shareholders only. Join us at the HCF hot seat and where Vedran Boljat, Vice President of Novo Nordisk, will explain why he believes Novo Nordisk is exactly on that track. We’ll delve into the social responsibility of the companies, especially those with annual budgets bigger than some GDPs, explore stakeholder capitalism in pharma industry and highlight what Novo Nordisk does better.

Q&A

Moderator: Mario Aunedi Medek, Val grupa, Director

Introduction of the keynote speaker Jan Berger

Moderator: Daniela Trbović

Keynote speaker: Jan Beger, Digital Ecosystem EMEA, GE HealthCare, Senior Director (Germany)

Healthcare needs AI because it needs the human touch, meaning that healthcare can benefit greatly from the combination of AI technologies and human expertise and empathy. AI in healthcare has the potential to automate routine and mundane tasks, which can free up valuable time. It allows healthcare providers to spend more time building relationships with patients and delivering the human touch that is essential in healthcare.

Q&A after keynote presentation

Introduction of the panelists

Moderator: Daniela Trbović

The disruptive influence of AI is permeating all facets of life, particularly in healthcare. What advancements do these innovations usher in, and what advantages can they provide in terms of data-driven, improved healthcare, prevention, and treatment? How are AI technologies revolutionizing healthcare, such as through personalized treatment recommendations based on patient data, early disease detection using advanced imaging techniques, and automated systems for streamlining administrative tasks and patient care?

Panelists:

• Nina Šesto, PhD, Clinic Magdalena, MEGI Health
• Jelena Curać, Croatian Health Insurance Fund (HZZO), Assistant Director for Information Technology
• Ivan Biliškov, Codeasy, Director

Moderator: Sanya-Eduarda Kuzet, PhD, Boston Consulting Group, Manager