IHCO board meets in Barcelona

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12.05.2014

IHCO board meets in Barcelona

On 10 and 11 April Barcelona hosted the members of the board of the International Health Co-operative Organisation, the IHCO, as they held their first meeting of 2014. The gathering was attended by delegates from Brazil, Japan, Canada, Argentina and Spain.

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Aside from aspects of statutory business, during the meeting the President, Dr José Carlos Guisado, reported on the most recent initiatives and activities undertaken, highlighting the contacts in the United States, Turkey and Mozambique regarding new co-operative ventures being developed in said countries.

Dr. Toshinori Ozeki, Vice-President of the Health and Welfare Co-operative Federation of Japan, explained the efforts being made by the members of the federation in an attempt to support members’ health, welfare and preventive cares, including the meal delivery service and housing supply for elderly members.

Meanwhile Dr Ricardo López, President of the Argentinian Federation of Social Health Entities, reported on the unfavourable changes made to Argentinian legislation, treating co-operatives in the same way as other types of company in the field of health. This circumstance has led to numerous co-operatives no longer being able to provide their services.

The president of the Health Care Co-operatives Federation of Canada, Ms Vanessa Hammond, announced the creation in Canada of a new organisation combining the two federations previously representing the co-operative movement in the country.

Dr Eudes Aquino, President of Unimed Brazil, reported on the growth of health co-operatives in Brazil, serving almost 20 million people and accounting for 32% of the national health plan market.

On the 11th an event was held at Hospital de Barcelona, at which the members of the board were shown how the hospital and the SCIAS co-operative operate. Following the event, which was attended by Ms Teresa Basurte, President of the Fundación Espriu and of the SCIAS co-operative, the delegates visited the hospital, with Dr Gerard Martí, the deputy Medical Director, showing them around the establishment’s different departments. The day ended with an emotional celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Fundación Espriu.

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