This CHES Annual Lecture looked at how EU member states can maintain quality health care with reasonable and affordable access for all citizens. There are many challenges, including low economic growth, pressure from demographic developments and chronic diseases, and increasingly expensive treatments. But there’s also a lot of waste: a recent OECD report found that almost a fifth of all healthcare expenditure has no positive impact on health outcomes. Christopher Fearne, Minister for Health, Malta, delivered the CHES Annual Lecture, with a response from Servaas Deroose, Deputy Director General for Economic and Financial Affairs, European Commission. The event was chaired by Hans Martens, Chair of CHES and Senior Adviser, European Policy Centre (EPC).