Academia Engelberg:
4th Dialogue on Science from 28 to 30 September 2005

Where is healthcare going in Europe?

Various health service models are used in western industrialized nations. Nevertheless, all these countries share a common problem: Who decides which patient may receive which treatment, i.e. between expediency and luxury?

This problem is the subject of the 4th Dialogue on Science be-ing held by the Academia Engelberg between 28 and 30 Sep-tember 2005. Leading exponents such as Dr. Roger Busch from Munich, Prof. Miroslav Radman from Paris, Prof. Pierre Alain Clavien from Zürich, Dr. Jan von Overbeck from Swiss Re, Prof. Walter Siegenthaler from Zürich and other experts will discuss decision-making in the health service with the participants of this conference. Who decide, and why, between expediency and luxury treatment, for example in cases of premature birth or intensive care in old age? A further question to be addressed here is: “How can influence be brought to bear on the attitudes of partners in a healthcare system - patients, medical staff, health insurance companies and politics?”.

Changing the perspective

In the course of the conference, the participants will touch on taboos in an unaccustomed and unusual way. They will be re-quired to use play as a way of breaking through forbidden ideas, swapping roles for a time and representing attitudes and opinions which are not their own. The key questions and theo-ries will be addressed in detail in group work and discussed in the plenum. As a result, participants should question automa-tisms of attitude and explore new approaches for finding solu-tions.

Building bridges for science

Fundamental scientific knowledge not infrequently encounters strong reservations and mistrust in the broader population. Academia Engelberg tries to do its part in helping to build bridges by fostering a new basis of trust through dialogue between science and the general public. To this end, around 150 leading experts from the worlds of science, business, culture, and politics, as well as the media, are meeting again this au-tumn in Engelberg, Switzerland.

Academia Engelberg is concerned to ensure that this discussion is also held with people from the media.

Please notice: By way of exception, the conference this year will be held mostly in German (without translation service).

For further information, contact: Academia Engelberg, Beatrice Suter, KommunikationsWerkstatt, Tel. +41-41-660 96 19, Fax +41-41-660 96 28, E-Mail: kommwerk@tic.ch, www.academia-engelberg.ch