On Monday 30 March, the European Commission issued a series of recommendations to Member States to help them alleviate pressure on their health systems and to support healthcare workers. Member States' resources are indeed limited, as shown by the latest statistics published on Tuesday 31 March by the EU's statistical office (Eurostat).
Over the last ten years, the number of hospital beds available has been decreasing in the Twenty-Seven, reaching 2.4 million in 2017. This represents an average of 541 beds per 100,000 inhabitants, with significant differences between States.
The recommendations on health systems resilience are based on the work of the scientific advisory panel of eight epidemiologists and infectious disease specialists that met the previous day. They complement previous guidelines on distancing and testing measures (see EUROPE 12450/3).
On the issue of testing, a Commission spokesperson said: "We know that each Member State is responsible for implementing the testing procedures. However, European recommendations can contribute to a targeted approach based on risk assessment and a scientific approach".
This is also true of the 30 March recommendations on health systems resilience.
Strengthening health systems resilience...
This new document invites Member States to clearly identify their priorities. "It is clear that all Member States must prepare for an eventual sustained high-pressure on healthcare systems", notes the European Commission in its preamble. "These measures are essential to protect vulnerable populations, decrease the pressure on healthcare services and reduce mortality", it says.
The Commission identifies hospital preparedness (evolving capacity plans and shortage contingency plans) as one of the most urgent measures. It then recommends, in order: - limiting the "avoidable" presence of symptomatic patients in health care facilities; - designate treatment facilities for mild, sub-intensive and intensive care needs; - free up resources by cancelling non-essential procedures; - train or reallocate staff; - find alternatives to hospitalisation, such as isolation at home under medical supervision for average cases - and limit the spread of the virus by denying access to hospitals for family and friends of admitted patients.
... And help healthcare workers.
The paper also focuses on healthcare workers, who, according to the Commission, are "our most important asset against COVID-19". "All over the EU, [these professionals] are working tirelessly at great personal risk. It is crucial that concrete measures are taken to support them", the Commission stresses.
Again, the document identifies a series of priorities to relieve and protect these workers. This includes appropriate personal protective equipment, a lighter administrative burden, childcare programmes or housing close to hospitals, and psychological support programmes.
See recommendations on health systems resilience: https://bit.ly/2JEZ0Pj
New statistics
On 31 March, Eurostat published new data showing that health expenditure varies greatly between Member States.
In 2017, health expenditure relative to population size was highest in the EU in Sweden (€5,200 per inhabitant), Denmark and Luxembourg (€5,100 per inhabitant each) and lowest in Romania (€490 per inhabitant) and Bulgaria (€590 per inhabitant).
More general statistics show that the number of graduates in the health sector has been increasing in recent years, while the number of available hospital beds has been declining.
See: https://bit.ly/39rwV8o Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean)