Hosted by Bocconi University, the 2013 EHMA Annual Conference "What healthcare can we afford? Better, quicker, lower cost health services" is to take place at the Bocconi University, Milano, Italy, 26-28 June 2013.In 2013 the EHMA Annual Conference will focus in the search for better and more effective ways to deliver care, to shape cooperation between stakeholders, and to provide patients with the care they want and need continues.As funding becomes tighter, the pressure rises to increase productivity in health care. We need to look not just at the patient level but also at the system level. How can we structure our systems to be more effective? Are there systemic changes that we can and should make to drive up the productivity of our healthcare? All of this poses significant leadership and managerial challenges. What skills and qualities do we need in our managers and leaders to make rapid and sometimes radical change in times of austerity? What models of leadership are likely to be the most effective?Now, more than ever, Europe’s leading academics, practitioners, policy makers and managers need to be creative, innovative and cooperative in order to explore how together they can take responsibility for creating sustainable health systems for now, and face the challenges of tomorrow.The call for abstracts is open. Submission deadline is 21 January 2013