At their virtual meeting on Sunday 19 April, G20 Health Ministers recognised that health services around the world suffer from “systemic weaknesses”. The European Union, which is also a member of this group of the most developed economies, has in recent years taken an ambiguous position on the financing of these services.
“Health Ministers recognised that the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted systemic weaknesses in health services”, says a joint press release issued at the end of the meeting. “It also revealed vulnerabilities in the international community's ability to prevent and respond to pandemic threats”, the Ministers said, stressing the need to improve the effectiveness of health systems through information sharing.
The EU and health
After being heavily criticised during the economic crisis and in the Troika recommendations to Greece, the Commission has only limited powers with respect to health. It is generally limited to complementing the action of Member States, for example in areas relating to the internal market. However, it closely follows the action of the Member States via the 'European Semester' budgetary process. In 2019, it made a series of recommendations, ranging from establishing fiscally sustainable health systems and strengthening outpatient care, to reducing non-reimbursed expenses borne by patients and strengthening prevention policies. It also co-authors an annual health overview with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, which regularly stresses the need to reduce “unnecessary expenditure”, such as hospital admissions of patients suffering from diabetes, hypertension or even asthma (see EUROPE 12143/16). (Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean)