In a study published on Thursday 23 August on the macro-economic implications of health care, the Bruegel think tank demonstrates that Italy is the European Union country with the most efficient healthcare services.
This study seeks to show how health care systems have a budgetary impact on the long-term viability of public debt and implications on the labour market in terms of participation, productivity and human capital. It highlights, above all, the importance of promoting quality healthcare spending in relation to quantitative features.
Therefore, in its introduction, it highlights the example of the US, which spends twice as much as the European Union on health care, with mediocre results. The authors of the study explain “With the increase in spending up to a certain level… health outcomes improve, but an even higher level of spending does not lead to further noticeable improvement in these basic outcome indicators.”
On this basis, the study provides a sort of rating system between the member states and demonstrates that Italy manages its health care system efficiently. Other countries in southern Europe and some in central Europe also achieve a good rating, whilst the majority of countries in northern and western Europe use their healthcare input less efficiently, with the notable exception of France and Austria.
This study can be consulted at the following page https://bit.ly/2LmVRlx. (Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean)