A conference organised by DIPLOCAT and the Catalan ministries of Health and Social Rights on 8 May will focus on the issue of integrated health and social care in sparsely populated areas

DIPLOCAT and the Government of Catalonia´s ministries of Health and Social Rights will hold a conference entitled Isolated but Assisted. Integrated health and social care in sparsely populated areas: exchange of good practices and innovation processes. The event will take place on Wednesday 8 May, from 9 am to 1.30 pm, at the Conference Hall of the Ministry of Health in Barcelona (Ave Maria Pavilion; Travessera de les Corts 131-159).

The goal of the conference is to incentivise the study and exchange of international best practice models applicable to health and social care in remote or sparsely populated areas of Catalonia, thus contributing to geographical levelling up and the fight against depopulation.

The event will begin with a presentation by Tino Martí, Digital Health Facilitator at EHTEL (European Health Telematics Association), who will discuss key policy trends and the implementation of digital transformation and integrated care in Europe.

Following this, there will be two round-table discussions. The first will look at innovative experiences from Sweden, Scotland, Finland, Vall d'Aran, and Catalonia and how they use digital tools in the health and social care sectors to facilitate their work in remote areas. The participants will be Monica Walhström, Social Services R&D Chef Strategist in Västerbotten (Sweden); Donna Henderson, Head of International Engagement for the Scottish Government's Health and Social Care Finance, Digital and Governance Directorate; Vesa Jormanainen, Senior Ministerial Advisor at the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs, Government of Finland; Maria Àngels Borràs, Director of the Aranese Health and Welfare Service; Jordi Vilana, Managing Director of Aran Salut; and Joan Guanyabens, Director of the Fundació TIC Salut Social.

The second round table will examine the specific measures that are being implemented to achieve quality health and social care in rural and sparsely populated areas. The different sectors involved in Catalonia, including social organisations, local authorities, and the Government of the Generalitat, will be represented. The participants will be Carme Ferrer, Mayor of Senan (Conca de Barberà), member of the Tarragona Provincial Council and President of the Small Municipalities Forum in the Catalan Association of Municipalities (ACM); Marta Burgell, representative of the Catalan Mental Health Federation (Third Sector Platform of Catalonia); and a representative of the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Social Rights.

The conference will offer simultaneous interpreting in Catalan and English and will also be broadcast digitally.

Registration (limited places, allocation on a first-come, first-served basis)