The Mental Health Cluster (MHC) was pleased to attend the 44th World Hospital Congress 2021, a unique forum dedicated to healthcare which was held in Barcelona this year, as the WHC 2020 edition had to be postponed.
During the session “Dynamic visions of adding value to go beyond healthcare service delivery”, our cluster manager Marta Sánchez Bret, presented the Care & Autonomy Living Lab. It is an open innovation ecosystem that provides solutions for conditions that lead to people’s loss of autonomy, whether mental and neurodevelopmental disorders, intellectual disabilities or ageing.
This innovation space, in which users will be at the centre of progress, will involve cooperation between companies and public/private institutions.
Why push for the CALL?
According to Marta, “Governments cannot afford alone the cost of healthcare public programs and their corresponding sustainability. There is a whole private sector willing to step up with new business models that could fit in the system through public-private collaborations, to deliver effective and secure results”.
She also pointed out that trends in the healthcare market have shown us that collaborative work, a multidisciplinary approach and a holistic view are key issues to solve the current challenges. “We, as a cluster, are moving towards an integrated concept of health and care service models within communities. This is where the Living Lab is a perfect fit”.
Marta also explained the working methodology that will allow the different agents to work in real environments and test common solutions.
The feasibility study of this new Living Lab is currently being carried out in collaboration with the University of Barcelona, ESADE Creapolis and the UAB. It will include the participation of many Cluster members and the support of Sant Boi de Llobregat City Council.
A global healthcare forum
The International Hospital Federation (IHF) and the Unió Catalana d’Hospitals hosted this year’s Congress, thus the WHC 2020 had to be cancelled as the Covid-19 pandemic hit the world.
The 44th World Hospital Congress was a hybrid event, bringing together more than 1,500 health professionals and authorities from all over the world. More than one thousand in person participants gathered at the Fira Montjuïc in Barcelona, while the rest were able to access all live-streamed sessions, which allowed them to interact with other fellow participants, presenters or exhibitors.
We look forward to participating in the next edition of the IHF Congress, to be held in Dubai from 9 to 11 November 2022.
