About: health services
Recession sparks mental health crisis
Demand for mental health services has increased over the past 12 months as people struggle to cope with unemployment, debt, home repossession and threat of redundancy, according to a new study.
Cross-border health plan set to pass despite opposition
A controversial directive on cross-border healthcare is expected to pass through the European Parliament at the end of this month, despite continued divisions between political groups and disagreement among member states.
Hospital bugs cost EU €5.5bn per year
Healthcare associated infections (HCAIs) contribute to the deaths of 110,000 and cost an estimated €5.5bn every year, but could be dramatically reduced if best practice was shared across the EU, it has been claimed.
Dutch healthcare system ‘best in Europe’ in 2008
The Netherlands' healthcare system was this week rated the best in Europe by the annual Euro Health Consumer Index (EHCI). Experts believe it could serve as a model for US healthcare reform.
Study highlights ‘massive health savings’ of stricter climate policies
The EU could save up to €25 billion every year by introducing more ambitious climate policies, according to a new study by health and environment NGOs.Conceptualising approaches to trade in health care
"Great benefits can be made by opening health sectors to trade and investment integration, but very few countries have undertaken such reforms," write Lucy Davis and Fredrik Erixon in a policy brief for the European Centre for International Political Economy (ECIPE).
EU health ministers rehearse for major health crises
Gathering for an informal meeting on 8-9 September, the ministers emphasised the need to improve coordination and speed up reactions at European level to enable authorities to efficiently protect the public in case of major outbreaks of contagious diseases like avian influenza, SARS and yellow fever.
Personalised healthcare
The European Commission is promoting hi-tech solutions to prevent chronic diseases and meet the health challenges of the 21st century.
Patient mobility
Increased cross-border patient mobility has public finance implications but better co-ordination of national health policies and more co-operation at European level is expected to bring benefits both to patients and health systems. However, the directive on cross-border healthcare remains blocked at European Council level.
Security and cross-border care ‘to dominate EU health agenda’
Tackling health threats such as avian flu and ensuring safe, efficient and equitable access to cross-border healtcare will be top priorities of the EU public health policy agenda in the years to come, predicted the Commission's public health director, Andrzej Ry?, in an interview with EURACTIV.
Commission promotes delivery of long-term care at home
Member states will need to adapt their national health systems to prepare for the expected increase in long-term health services due to the EU's ageing demographics, according to a new study published by the Commission.
Stakeholders urge action on health services directive
Doctors, patients and citizens alike are urging the Commission to come up with a promised directive on the provision of cross-border health services. They insist that official discussions on the proposal must begin, despite fears they could trigger major negative EU campaigning by some MEPs ahead of the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty.
Confusion surrounds EU’s health services directive
A long-awaited proposal to codify the circumstances under which EU patients can legitimately be covered for treatment received in other member states could be either redrafted, withdrawn or downgraded, EURACTIV has learnt.Brussels presses for progress on lead markets for eHealth
The European Commission has called for quick action and strengthened national co-operation on lead market opportunities for eHealth in order to increase economic benefits and improve quality of health services.
ICT networks prerequisite for healthcare at home
Technologies to deliver healthcare at home can ease the burden of chronic disease in an ageing Europe, but an integrated network enabling interconnection of different medical devices and linking patients to doctors and hospitals needs to be put in place first, argue public sector representatives.
Report calls for increased accountability in healthcare
Healthcare systems around the world will become unsustainable by 2015, unless governments adopt new accountability standards on how the money is being spent, argues an IBM report, echoing earlier calls for more transparency in public health funding.
Quality of Life
Well-being and quality of life in a population, which are linked to factors such as standard of living, happiness, freedom and environmental health, are essential to economics and political science. Politicians are showing an increasing interest in developing a 'Gross National Happiness' index, similar to GDP.Commission outlines EU health policy strategy
The EU health strategy 2008-2013 focuses on fostering good health among older people and the workforce, protecting citizens from emerging threats and supporting innovation towards more efficient and sustainable healthcare systems.
New institute to assess value of medical technology
A new institute will aim to bridge the gap between medical technology, innovation and healthcare policy to provide policymakers with evidence of the social and economic value of medical technology, and medical devices in particular.UK rethinks national health service
The UK has launched a review of the National Health Service (NHS) to examine the impact of technology and lifestyle choices on the nation's well-being and to make the system more fair, personal and effective. Launching the review, UK Premier Gordon Brown also announced the creation of a new health innovation fund.
Survey outlines disparities in EU healthcare systems
Countries that have initiated reforms, such as Austria and Estonia, have gone up in the ranking of the most user-friendly healthcare systems, according to the 2007 EuroHealth consumer index.
Business eyes eHealth solutions for home care
The financial challenges facing healthcare systems have lead to the increased application of home-based tele-health solutions, market-analysis firm Datamonitor reports.
Stakeholders back EU action on health
Plans for a future health strategy for enhanced European co-operation in the field gets stakeholder support, providing that the strategy respects member states' competencies and focuses on cross-border aspects.