What does the EU do to reduce health inequalities

in the new EU Member States

Nathalie Chaze

SANCO.D2

HEALTH INEQUALITIES IN THE NEW EU MEMBER STATES AND CANDIDATE COUNTRIES

26 February 2013 – European Parliament

Health inequalities in the EU

Source: Eurostat

Health indicators in the new EU MS

Source: Eurostat, OECD (2010 data)

Access to health: self-reported unmet needs for medical examination

Source: SILC data, Eurostat

Bulgaria – Health System

• Main challenges:

• Population health

• Inequalities in access (urban vs. rural; economic reasons)

• Funding/financing of the system

• Capacity and organization of the hospital sector

• Human Resources strategy

• Referral GP to specialist; inpatient vs. outpatient

• Population health

• Inequalities in access (urban vs. rural; economic reasons)

• Funding/financing of the system

• Capacity and organization of the hospital sector

• Human Resources strategy

• Referral GP to specialist; inpatient vs. outpatient

EU action on health inequalities

• European Semester

• Country Specific Recommendations

- 11 in 2013 regarding Health (AT, BG, CZ, DE, FI, FR, MT, PL, RO, SP and SK)

- Bulgaria:

"Ensure effective access to healthcare and improve the pricing of healthcare services by linking hospitals’ financing to outcomes and developing outpatient care."

- Romania:

"Pursue health sector reforms to increase its efficiency, quality and accessibility, in particular for disadvantaged people and remote and isolated communities. Reduce the excessive use of hospital care including by strengthening outpatient care."

EU action on health inequalities

• Structural Funds

• Report on Health Inequalities• Equity Action - Joint Action on Health Inequalities

http://www.health-inequalities.eu/ Finalizes its work in February 2014 Conference on 23 January 2014 in Brussels

Equal access to high quality healthcare

•Consensus on a principle – Council Conclusions 2006

•But missing elements:• equal development of quality strategies across EU• clear and transparent information on quality of healthcare

confidence of EU citizens on good quality healthcare in EU

•How to address them?

Pricing of medicines

• Different systems in EU Member States• Is there a shared understanding of the different systems?• Are the Member States aware of

- advantages and disadvantages of each system?

- consequences of their systems to the other Member States?

• Need for more transparency and cooperation between Member States?

Thank you.