FLASH Workshops in Barcelona: Shaping the Future of Primary Care

On 16 and 17 October, the Institut Català de la Salut (ICS) and IDIAPJGol, partners of the European FLASH Project, organised two workshops in Barcelona dedicated to exploring how data and economic evidence can drive the transformation of primary care.

On 16 October, the workshop “Data, policies and reforms: the new course of primary care” provided a forum for reflection on the future challenges facing primary care. Discussions focused on how the intelligent use of data can support system improvement and guide reforms in a context of evolving demands and opportunities.

On 17 October, the workshop “Economics and primary healthcare” brought together researchers, policymakers, and healthcare professionals to examine how economic analysis can enhance care quality and sustainability. The debate addressed financial incentives, efficiency of care models, workforce dynamics, the strategic use of health data, and the role of digital technologies in strengthening primary care systems.

Both events encouraged open dialogue between economic research and clinical practice, highlighting how better use of information can lead to more informed decisions, more efficient systems, and care increasingly centered on patients’ needs.

A special thank you to Dr. Gustav Kjellsson (University of Gothenburg) for his inspiring keynote lecture on the Swedish primary care model and the balance between incentives, equity, and quality.

Framed within the FLASH Project, the workshops reinforced a shared commitment to building more sustainable, efficient, and resilient primary care systems across Europe through collaboration, evidence, and innovation.