Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.

It is wonderful to be here in Paris today and contribute to this important conference which no doubt will serve to further strengthen the relations between France and Denmark within the health sector.

It is always a pleasure for me to have the opportunity to address such a distinguished group of people, people who are dedicated to achieving good health for all, at all ages.

When you ask someone, what is the most important thing in life, the answer is more often than not; Health and Happiness.  Although two answers, it is hard to imagine one without the other and studies show that a person's health is one of the strongest predictors of happiness. But the link between health and happiness is very complex.

The ambition to achieve good health for all, at all ages will directly impact - economically, socially and environmentally - our lives and our societies in so many positive ways, for example; creating growth and increasing the quality of life....and happiness.

Compared to most other public services, healthcare is relevant throughout all life-stages.  We need to ensure better, more equitable, sustainable health and well-being for all at all ages: this is universal health coverage.  We are all affected by how well our health system works.  It concerns us all and it is something we all care about.

As the former, British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, said some 75 years ago (March 21st 1943):

“Healthy citizens are the greatest asset any country can have”.

I think we can all agree with these wise words.  Without the health and well-being of a population as a fundament, achieving sustainable development and securing a brighter future for our children and grandchildren will remain elusive.

Many of the health challenges being faced are shared challenges.  And they are both large and complex.  To develop solutions to our common challenges requires collaboration; the sharing of knowledge, expertise, know-how and innovation.  This is an area where our two nations can look to further develop existing collaborations and establish new ones.  Medical science and innovation are essential in our quest for long and healthy lives and in protecting us from genetic, infectious and chronic disease.

Actually, one of our greatest common challenges is also a success. And that challenge is our aging populations.  We are living longer which is a success but, at the same time living longer brings new challenges.

Life expectancy in France is amongst the highest in the European Union. And that is something to be proud of. Life expectancy in Denmark is slightly above the EU average but, we are determined to catch up to the leading countries, like yourselves. Therefore, we pay close attention to your efforts to reduce alcohol consumption and smoking, as these two behavioural risk factors also are major public health issues in Denmark

Longevity comes with a price, for example that an increasing number of people are facing and suffering from lifestyle related and chronic disease.

This places higher demands on healthcare as well as on prevention and health promotion. And that requires better coherence in the healthcare sector.

Fortunately, the progress that has been made today including digitization, means that many chronic conditions can be managed and treated in increasingly sophisticated ways.

This creates tremendous expectations from patients. And at the same time, it creates coping challenges for our healthcare systems, our hospitals, our communities and our medical workers. Not least in terms of cost and opportunity.

A couple of examples of challenges within both our health systems, is the lack of doctors with special expertise, disparities in the geographical distribution of doctors and other health professionals as well as a lack of coherence across different levels of care.

Although the Danish and French health services and systems have differences at many levels, we do both believe in a sustainable health care system for all - securing our populations universal access to high quality healthcare.

In Denmark, we are proud of how our healthcare system, and how it provides for the rights of the patient; ensuring all residents in Denmark free and equal access to medical treatment. And for having a national legislation that ensures that diagnosis and treatment are provided within certain time limits and establishes a free choice of hospital for patients, even ensuring that if treatment cannot be initiated within 30 days, patients may choose to go to a private hospital in Denmark or to a public or private hospital abroad.

This is reflected by Denmark having one of the highest levels of patient satisfaction within the EU.

During past years, major reforms to further improve the system and prepare for future demands have been implemented. The aim; to improve quality and efficiency as well as to ensure access to care across the country.

The improvements include the building of new and more modern hospitals enabling modern, high quality services for those patients, who need specialised care in a hospital setting. We are now seeing the finalization of these facilities in our cities.

And here we share the ambition to making our health care systems even better and ensuring better health for all.  

As I understand, the French healthcare system is also undergoing a structural and cultural transformation through the implementation of the "My Health 2022" (“Ma Santé 2022”) government plan.

During the past and coming years, the provision of specialised care in Denmark is being centralised at fewer, bigger and increasingly specialised hospitals.

At the same time, the Danish approach will focus on providing more services at the primary level; closer to or in the patient’s own home, where treatments can be performed in a less intrusive way. And here, digitalisation plays an essential role.

Increasingly, the emphasis is on the role of the patient as an active partner in managing their own treatment; enabling those who can to manage their own disease, for instance by regularly measuring lung-capacity or taking their medicine at home.

However, good infrastructure, new facilities and highly qualified healthcare professionals alone, is not enough to meet the demands the future will bring.

”The future comes by itself, progress does not.”, as the world-famous Danish architect and designer, Poul Henningsen, once said.

So, applying his words; if we are to meet future health challenges, we need to seek and discover new, innovative, collaborative and better solutions.

We must seize the opportunities provided by new technology, such as apps, e-health solutions and personalised medicine. It can bring hospitals, municipalities, general practitioners and private participants closer together – making a more coherent healthcare system. Ultimately, placing the patient at the centre.

In closing, it is important for me to state, that I believe that our ambition not only in France and Denmark, but globally, must be to improve quality of life, for all.

That is, with a strong commitment and determination to strive for longer lives that are free from disease.  In other words, healthy and happy lives.

There is no doubt, that our two countries can inspire each other and that we can learn from each other in the pursuit of that noble purpose. And that is exactly why we are gathered here today.

I applaud your continued dedication to improving the health and well-being of every French and Danish citizen.  I wish you all “santé et bonheur”

Merci