Commission report: access to quality healthcare for all remains key

In 2000, a male newborn in the EU could expect 78 years and a female 81 years of existence, but the life expectancy of the sexes is gradually moving towards convergence. The leading causes of death are the diseases of the circulatory system, cancer, respiratory as well as digestive diseases, followed by external causes of injury and poisoning.

"While the health sector is key in the treatment of poor health, and also plays a role in the maintenance of good health, the overall health status of citizens is significantly shaped by socio-economic, lifestyle and environmental conditions", states the report.

Health care and long-term care systems in the EU are striving to ensure equal access for all levels of income and wealth, high quality care, and the financial sustainability of care systems.

Health care systems, however, face new challenges, resulting from developments in technologies and therapies implying rising costs; the ageing of the "baby-boomers"; as well as the ageing of medical personnel (in seven Member States, 40 per cent of the nurses are already more than 45 years of age).

The report concludes that since those Member States that perform best on all crucial indicators are the ones that are most committed to the principles of the active welfare states, the way forward is to improve upon the functioning of the European Social Model.