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The researchers analysed 36 metrics spanning the healthcare workforce, the availability of medical technology and medicines, excess deaths and disease burden, and strategic planning for the health sector, to determine the European countries best and worst prepared for health crises.
Norway came out on top, followed by the Netherlands, Sweden, Germany, and Denmark. These countries scored well both on current health status and future readiness.
Meanwhile, at the bottom of the list were Bulgaria, Poland, Latvia, Romania, and Slovakia. Among the worst 10 countries, eight were in Central or Eastern Europe.
Generally, countries that spend more on healthcare tend to score better than those with less investment.
But the authors noted that even in high-income countries, there are disparities by urban-rural status and other socioeconomic factors.
“The economic strain from the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated these issues in many countries, putting additional pressure on already stretched healthcare budgets,” they said.
High-ranking countries also typically had higher rates of cancer or other diseases – but the report authors note that could be because they have higher quality diagnostic capabilities, allowing them to pick up on more health problems.
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Lower-ranked countries tended to have weaker health infrastructure, including fewer hospitals and specialised clinics, which can lead to long waiting times and overcrowded facilities, the report said.
They also often wait longer for new medicines, and citizens tend to believe there is a higher level of corruption in hospitals than elsewhere in Europe.
Notably, Eastern Europe has also seen a higher rate of excess deaths since the pandemic, with the greatest increases in countries like Bulgaria and Lithuania.
While Central and Eastern European countries increased their budgets during the pandemic, they still spend only 50 per cent to 60 per cent of what the top countries spend on health care, the report found.
“Countries with lower scores often struggle with underfunded healthcare systems,” the researchers said, “which can lead to a range of problems, including insufficient medical supplies, outdated equipment, and inadequate facilities”.
There are some bright spots. Central and Eastern European countries tend to have less access to new medicines than other areas, but the Czech Republic has made 62 per cent of EU-approved medicines available, compared with an average of 28 per cent across the region.
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Publish date : 2024-10-25 03:36:00
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