Objectives
Ø General objectives
The principal objective of the project is to assist European, regional and local decision makers in developing their health policy, by informing them of the state of health of the populations in the regions of Europe. To achieve this objective, the project proposes to establish a health profile for each region of Europe and to create a typology of the regions of Europe.
Following discussion with DG Sanco, the project will first of all set up a health profile for all the regions of all the countries of Europe (member states and, as possible, candidate countries). The level at which the profiles will be produced is the NUTS 2 level for all the countries where relevant or at the health regions level defined in the Isare project for the other countries. A short document describing the demographic, social and health situation of the population, as well as the health care system, will be produced for each region. Qualitative comments will complement the indicators presented in the health profile.
The second part of the project concerns the study of inequalities in health at a sub-national level. The Isare project identified situations where there were more similarities between different regions in different countries compared to the situation within countries, and for example. Highlighted greater similarities between two neighbouring regions separated by a frontier than between two geographically separated regions within the same country. Furthermore, the study of inequalities at a sub-national level has brought into prominence disadvantaged zones not evident on a larger scale.
The project will set up a typology of the regions of Europe, thus permitting the European regions to see where they stand with respect to one another. It will enable the highlighting of homogenous zones from the socio-economic and health point of view, and to identify the most disadvantaged zones. These typologies will be produced for all the regions of all the member states and, as soon as it is possible, the candidate countries. Furthermore, because regional decision makers often decline their policies at a local level, this study will also be carried out on an infra-regional level in a limited number of countries and regions.
Ø Specific objectives
1. To collect and update data needed for the health profiles and the typology at regional level. The data collection will be made through contact with the countries correspondent and international organisations (Eurostat).
2. To define and collect the data needed for the typology at sub regional level. The countries participating to the infra-regional part of the work will receive a questionnaire for this purpose.
3. To establish health profiles for all the regions of all the countries of Europe. Analysis of the collected data will be undertaken in order to provide, for each region of Europe, a health profile.
4. To create a typology of the regions of Europe. A typology of all the regions of all the countries of Europe will be established from the demographic, social and health indicators collected to highlight homogenous zones.
5. To create a typology of geographical units at infra-regional level. Classification at infra-regional level will be achieved from the demographic, social and health indicators collected to identify homogenous zones.
6. To disseminate the results of the project. The dissemination of the results will be done through internet, a network of professionals working at regional level and a final meeting.