MEDICA ECON FORUM by TK

Once again this year, the MEDICA ECON FORUM by TK provides the platform for health policy discussions within the framework of the world's largest medical trade fair MEDICA (November 12 – 15, 2014). Together with Messe Düsseldorf, Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) presents a diverse range of topics for the healthcare industry on all event days, now for the third time. The topics range from "Perspectives of Health Policy," through the "Quality Offensive in Healthcare," to "Challenges of Medical Care in Rural Areas." "Visitors can look forward to exciting and insightful discussion rounds. We are pleased that many responsible health policymakers, scientists, and decision-makers in healthcare will once again participate as speakers in our forum," said Günter van Aalst, Head of the TK State Representation NRW, who organizes the forum.

Dr. Jens Baas, Chairman of the Board of TK, will open the MEDICA ECON FORUM by TK on November 12. Following that, Annette Widmann-Mauz, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Health, will provide an outlook on the health policy priorities of the legislative period. Under the question "From Dividend to Additional Contribution – How Does the Financial Reform Work?" the TK CEO and State Secretary Widmann-Mauz will then discuss with Dr. Doris Pfeiffer, Chairwoman of the GKV-Spitzenverband, and Prof. Dr. Eberhard Wille, Deputy Chairman of the Expert Council for Assessment in Healthcare.

The program highlights of the second day include the evident challenges of medical care in rural areas and reform proposals for physician remuneration. State Secretary Karl-Josef Laumann, Federal Government Commissioner for Patients, and Thomas Ballast, Deputy Chairman of the TK Board, will present opening statements. Participants in further discussion rounds include, among others: Prof. Jürgen Wasem (University of Duisburg-Essen), Prof. Christian Diercks (Charité Berlin), and Prof. Gerd Glaeske (University of Bremen).

The NRW Day on November 14 is dedicated entirely to demographic change. With the keynote speech "Well-Cared-For at Home – Future Models for Elderly Care," NRW Health Minister Barbara Steffens lays the foundation for the subsequent discussion. Various solutions such as "Telemedicine – Current Strategies for NRW," as well as topics like "Practice Networks" and "On-Site Care Assistance," will then be presented.

This year, the forum concludes with a "Day of Health" on Saturday (November 15). A talk round with Prof. Dr. Dietrich Grönemeyer will focus on the topic "Living Healthier Through Movement." Followed by the lectures "Health – What Is It?" and "Health – How Does It Work?", before high-performance athlete Andreas Niedrig discusses motivation strategies.

The MEDICA ECON FORUM by TK is accessible to all visitors of MEDICA in Hall 15 from November 12 to 15, 2014.