Cross-border value-based innovation procurement in health systems: the Euriphi Project

Abstract The EU Coordination and Support Action, under Horizon 2020 “Innovation in Healthcare”, aims at the adoption of innovation in health and care systems and advancing procurement of innovation practices. In response to this initiative, a consortium of 25 leading organizations in procurement and health care has been created. Among the project partners, AReSS Puglia, in collaboration with InnovaPuglia (public provider of Apulian system), analysed and exploited the best integrated solution to adopt in the Health and Care system. The EURIPHI project has successfully contributed to address common unmet needs and shortcomings in the current care delivery by using value-based innovation procurement for Public Procurement of Innovation Solutions and Pre-Commercial Procurement in the field of rapid-diagnosis of infectious diseases and integrated care. Regions, providers and procurers joined the effort to map the unmet needs and to have a broader view on demands for innovative solutions for rapid diagnosis for infectious disease and integrated care. After the definition of unmet needs and, therefore of procurement objectives, the EURIPHI consortium organized two Open Market Consultations with the industry, one in the field of rapid diagnosis and in integrated care. Two ecosystems have been created to ensure the sustainability of the project's results the EURIPHI Health & Social Care Regions Network and Value Based Procurement Community of Practice. Puglia Region is at the forefront of the two, together with other relevant healthcare stakeholders across Europe. The needed reform of health and care systems in Europe requires the adoption of innovation and integrated solutions. One way forward is to rethink procurement policies. A positive transformation in this area definitively is to elevate procurement practices towards an approach that awards the value offered by innovation or integrated solution.