Not on the hoof but in the mountains

John Bowis describes how the Gastein health forum has been the scene of some important health policy initiatives

The European health forum at Bad Hofgastein in the mountains of Austria has become a firm fixture in my early October diary.

The scenery soothes the eyes and the air clears the lungs – a combination to enhance clear thinking among the large gathering of academics, companies, NGOs, politicians and administrators from the world of health and related subjects.

Quality plenary sessions and workshops cover an ever-widening range of topics and, although one’s day seems to be filled from early morning to late at night, there still seems to be time for that special Gastein brand of networking.

The forum was the brainchild of its director, Günther Leiner, and then EU social affairs commissioner Padraig Flynn. Both continue to keep a fatherly eye on the project, while a team of young ideas men and women keep the agenda pace flowing. It is a must for the EU’s health commissioner and always receives support from Austrian ministers.

Last year, Austrian chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer spoke and – since I was chairing the session and as the only problem with Austria’s fresh Alpine air is the passive Austrian smoke – I took the opportunity to remind him that we were still waiting for an effective policy from Austria on smoking in public places.

To my astonishment – and perhaps to that of his entourage – he agreed with me and said he did not agree with his own government’s draft. On a previous occasion it was the Austrian health minister, Maria Rauch-Kallatt, who picked up the diabetes ball and ran with it towards a council resolution. Policy can occasionally be made at Gastein, not on the hoof, but in the mountains.

When I first went to Gastein, my part of the agenda there was dominated by enlargement – not obesity but accession – and its health impact. Now we have benefited from the regular presence of increasing numbers of our eastern and central European colleagues, including MEPs. Regular friends have, of course, included healthy lifestyles, from tobacco to obesity.

But the agenda has moved on, and occasionally back, through flu pandemic preparedness and health economics to patient safety and health profession issues, rare diseases and cross-border health, which should be a hot topic this year. At the same time, we have seen health topics that, in the early years, had to struggle to achieve a fringe mention, now coming much more centre stage. Mental health and men’s health are two that come to mind and, if you enjoyed the courtroom drama on men’s health last year, watch out for the hot air balloon this time!

If I have one regret, it is that it is still very much a health community that meets in Gastein. The message of health in all policies has not yet spread beyond excellent initiatives such as environment and health. It proved impossible, for example, to entice the otherwise excellent Austrian agriculture commissioner to come to his own country to contribute to healthy lifestyles debates.

But regrets are not on my mind as I pack to travel to my favourite health forum. Ideas start to buzz, lungs and mind start to expand and it’s off to meet old and new friends.