European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies

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• New HiT health system review on Sweden
  04-05-2012
  The new HiT (Health Systems in Transition) health system review for Sweden reflects the more critical attitude that has been taken towards the traditional model of publicly organised and decentralized health services. Reforms that started in the 1990s have gradually diversified the spectrum and introduced new forms of governance, also aiming to extend the level of choice and responsiveness towards patients. Despite the fact that health outcomes and clinical quality in Sweden may be among the best in the world, much focus has been put in recent years on increasing regional transparency and improving the safety, quality and efficiency of services. The further development of primary care and elderly care as well as a better coordination between providers have been priorities for policy makers. The new report officially launched on 10 May in Stockholm at meetings hosted by the Ministry of Health and the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions.
• New Eurohealth: Health systems and the financial crisis
  23-04-2012
  This issue of Eurohealth, the second with a new layout and design, provides an overview article case studies on health system responses to the financial crisis from the Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece and Ireland. Other articles include: the patient perspective on the Professional Qualifications Directive; the evolution of obesity in Spain; the performance of chronic care system in Denmark; competition in the Dutch health insurance system; pharmaceutical market reforms in Portugal; and Eurohealth Monitor.
• New HiT health system review on Poland is published
  20-04-2012
  The new HiT (Health Systems in Transition) health system review for Poland has just been released. Extensive reform efforts have taken place in Poland since the start of political and economic transformation in 1989, including the first systemic changes in the health sector.
• Health in the Veneto Region of Italy
  19-04-2012
  The Veneto Region is one of Italy’s richest regions and the health of its resident population compares favourably with other regions in Italy. A new HiT (Health Systems in Transition) health system review for the Veneto Region has just been published and the publication explores the health system of this important region and some of the challenges (an ageing population, the incidence of chronic diseases, as well as the ever-present problem of keeping the regional health budget balanced) the administration currently faces. This new report illustrates the important role that regional authorities play in certain decentralised health systems.
• Kazakstan's health system
  29-03-2012
  The new HiT (Health Systems in Transition) health system review for Kazakhstan has just been released. Since becoming independent, Kazakhstan has undertaken major efforts in reforming its health system. Two comprehensive reform programmes have been developed in the last decade, and there has been progress on promoting evidence-based medicine and developing and introducing new clinical practice guidelines, as well as facility-level quality improvements. However, as this publication shows, key aspects of health system performance are still in need of improvement. A key challenge is regional inequities in health financing, health care utilization and health outcomes, although some improvements have been achieved in recent years.
• WHO Barcelona Course in Health Financing
  20-03-2012
  The WHO Barcelona Office for Health Systems Strengthening is hosting the second Barcelona Course in Health Financing from May 14 to 18, 2012. Application deadline is 28th of March, 2012. The special theme of the course is moving towards and sustaining universal coverage with a highlight on how to counter the impact of economic downturns.
• New HiT health system review on Denmark is published
  20-03-2012
  The new HiT (Health Systems in Transition) health system review for Denmark reflects recent health trends and structural changes in the Danish health system. Lifestyle related risk factors and chronic illnesses are increasingly becoming major health issues which are still more challenging as an effect of the ageing population . This has pressed the health system towards a model of provision focused much more on the management of chronic care conditions. Although this report reveals a system that generally provides high quality services within each sector, authors show that the fragmented structure of the Danish health system poses serious challenges in providing effectively coordinated care. Traditionally characterised as a decentralised system, several reforms from 2007 have strengthened coordination and centralised control. The new HiT will be officially presented at a meeting of the Chief Medical Officers taking place in Copenhagen on 12 April in the context of the Danish EU Presidency.
• New HiT health system review on Turkey is published
  23-02-2012
  The new HiT (Health Systems in Transition) health system review for Turkey has just been published. Turkey has accomplished remarkable improvements in terms of health status in the last three decades.
• Apply now for Summer School on performance assessment
  15-02-2012
  The Observatory Summer School will take place in Venice, 22–28 July 2012. It is a chance to spend a week working intensely with other senior to mid level health policy makers, planners and professionals with expert support to marshal the evidence on performance, to review what it means for health systems and to share experiences of responding through policy and in practice. Early applications are encouraged as places are limited.
• New HiT on Russian Federation
  01-02-2012
  The new HiT on the Russian Federation has just been published.
• New book examining the link between good health and economic growth
  19-01-2012
  A new Observatory  book looks at health systems from a new and stimulating perspective: Health systems, health, wealth and societal well-being. Assessing the case for investing in health systems.
• New HiT on Hungary
  08-12-2011
  The new HiT on Hungary has been published. Hungary has achieved a successful transition from an overly centralized, integrated Semashko-style health care system to a purchaser–provider split model with output-based payment methods. Although there have been substantial increases in life expectancy in recent years among both men and women, many health outcomes remain poor, placing Hungary among the countries with the worst health status and highest rate of avoidable mortality in the EU (life expectancy at birth trailed the EU27 average by 5.1 years in 2009). Lifestyle factors – especially the traditionally unhealthy Hungarian diet, alcohol consumption and smoking – play a very important role in shaping the overall health of the population.
• New book on governance: Governing public hospitals
  02-12-2011
  This study explores key developments in public hospital governance in Europe.
• Launch of the New Eurohealth: The Professional Qualifications Directive
  29-11-2011
  This exciting issue of Eurohealth, the first incorporating Euro Observer, has a new modern look and better navigation. The issue provides perspectives on the Professional Qualifications Directive from a regulator, physicians and nurses. Also covered is the topic of health care fraud and corruption in Europe with an overview and examples from Belgium, Norway and Scotland. Other articles include: Statistics for out-of-pocket spending in the FSU, Theory around pay-for-performance, and Eurohealth Monitor.
• New book on DRGs launched at EuroDRG final conference in Berlin
  17-11-2011
  At the EuroDRG final conference, which is held in Berlin, 17 November 2011, the main results of the EuroDRG research project will be presented and discussed with policy-makers, researchers and stakeholders from Europe and beyond.
• New book on public health in Austria
  16-11-2011
  This new book explores some of the key challenges facing Austria’s public health system.
• New book on professional mobility
  18-10-2011
  Health professional mobility affects the performance of health systems and these impacts are assuming greater significance given increasing mobility in Europe. This new book gives  a comprehensive analysis of mobility patterns, the effect of migration on health systems and its relevance for policy-making.
• Euro Observer merging with Eurohealth
  05-10-2011
  As part of our commitment to be a primary information source on international developments in the health sector, the Observatory has decided to merge two key publications. The forthcoming Eurohealth issue 17.4 will mark the start of the integration with Euro Observer being incorporated as a thematic section. The last issue of Euro Observer is Vol. 13(2), Summer 2011 and past issues remain available for download.
• New HiT on Portugal
  20-09-2011
  The new HiT on Portugal has just been published to coincide with the completion and the beginning of the two phases of the National Health Plan (2004–2010; 2011–2016). It provides information on key points such as the National Health Service, co-payments, health insurance coverage, health care delivery by public and private providers, and ongoing reforms. The Portuguese population enjoys good health, but there is an overall awareness and concern about the rise in health care expenditure. Challenges remain and the effects of the reforms are still to be seen.
• New Eurohealth: Ageing and long-term care
  16-09-2011
  This issue of Eurohealth looks at meeting the challenge of ageing and long-term care. Articles cover European and OECD countries with topics including: future demand, cost projections, chronic diseases, remote care, workforce issues, etc. Other articles include: the European Directive on cross-border health care (England); the future of NICE (England); and the effects of hospital ownership on performance (Germany).
• New Eurohealth: Pharmaceutical policy and the effects of the economic crisis
  12-07-2011
  This issue of Eurohealth looks at pharmaceutical policy and the effects of the economic crisis in the Baltic States. Other articles include: results of a systematic review on reference pricing for pharmaceuticals; pharmaceutical reform and social health insurance (Germany); and the decline in nursing staff (Hungary).
• New Euro Observer: Mobility of health professionals in Europe
  17-06-2011
  The Summer issue looks at the factors that influence health professional mobility between the countries of Europe. Case studies on Germany, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Spain and the United Kingdom provide more in-depth details on each country’s health professional mobility profile, impacts on the health care system and government policy responses.
• New Kyrgyz HiT
  26-05-2011
  Just published, this new HiT provides information on the wide-ranging reforms of the Kyrgyz health system in a challenging socioeconomic and political context. Kyrgyzstan has developed two major health reform programmes after becoming independent: Manas (1996–2006) and Manas Taalimi (2006–2010). These reforms introduced comprehensive structural changes to the health care delivery system with the aim of strengthening primary health care, developing family medicine and restructuring the hospital sector.
• European parliament seminar on health workforce and professional mobility
  17-05-2011
  A half-day seminar on “Developing a Community approach to addressing health workforce and professional mobility challenges” will be held in the European Parliament, Brussels on 31st May 2011 from 9.00 to 12.30. This event is organised with the cooperation and support of the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies and the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Health & Consumers.
• Just Published: Ukraine Health System Review
  27-04-2011
  The Ukrainian health system has preserved the fundamental features of the Soviet Semashko system against a background of other changes, which are developed on market economic principles. The transition from centralized financing to its extreme decentralization is the main difference in the health system in comparison with the classic Soviet model.
• Just Published: Slovakia Health System Review
  27-04-2011
  The Slovak health system is a system in progress. Major health reform in the period 20022006 introduced a new approach based on managed competition. Although large improvements have been made since the 1990s (for example in life expectancy and infant mortality), health outcomes are generally still substantially worse than the average for the EU15 but close to the other Visegrád Four countries.
• New Eurohealth: EU law and health & health technology assessment
  14-04-2011
  This issue of Eurohealth looks at EU law and health. Also covered is the topic of health technology assessment for implantable medical devices in Greece, Poland and Serbia. Other articles include: pharmaceutical policy reform (Croatia), pharmaceutical consumption (Spain) and the challenges and performance of managed competition (the Netherlands).
• EU law and health systems book now free to download
  13-04-2011
  This book on the role of EU law and policy in health system governance is now free to download. It offers a state of the art of academic discussion on a number of current and emerging governance issues in EU healthcare policy, including regulatory, legal, ‘new governance’ and policy-making dynamics.
• Study on professional mobility and health systems presented at Hungarian EU Presidency meeting
  05-04-2011
  At the occasion of the informal meeting of health ministers (Gödöllő, 4-5 April 2011), where the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union has put health professionals’ mobility on the agenda, the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, in partnership with the WHO Regional Office for Europe, is presenting a new study on this issue.
• New book on cross-border health care
  28-03-2011
  Cross-border health care has become a much more prominent phenomenon in the European Union. When in need of medical treatment, patients increasingly act as informed consumers who claim the right to choose their own providers, including those beyond borders. This new book explores such trends and also looks at the legal framework for cross-border care as well as examining some of the uncertainties surrounding it. 
• Russian version of caring for people with chronic conditions book
  28-03-2011
  Many countries are experimenting with new approaches to delivering care in ways that meet the complex needs of people with chronic disorders. This book, now available in Russian, synthesises the evidence on what we know works (or does not) in different circumstances, and addresses the prerequisites for effective policies and management of chronic disease.
• Health system performance measurement book now free to download
  25-03-2011
  In a world where there is increasing demand for the performance of health providers to be measured, there is a need for a more strategic vision of the role that performance measurement can play in securing health system improvement. This volume, first published in 2009 and now free to download, meets this need by presenting the opportunities and challenges associated with performance measurement in a framework that is clear and easy to understand.
• New French HiT
  23-03-2011
  The French population enjoys good health and a high level of choice of providers. It is relatively satisfied with the health care system. However, as in many other countries, the rising cost of health care is of concern with regards to the objectives of the health care system. Many measures were or are being implemented in order to contain costs and increase efficiency.
• New Euro Observer: Decentralization in health care
  18-03-2011
  The Spring issue looks at decentralization as a governance tool in health care. Case studies on Norway, Spain and the United Kingdom highlight how decentralized arrangements work in practice in these countries.
• New HiT Report on England
  16-03-2011
  The new Health System in Transition (HiT) report on England provides a detailed analysis of the changes made to the health care system in England between 1997 and 2010. The report’s author assesses the impact that these changes have had in terms of access, equity, efficiency, quality and health outcomes.
• New ways of paying for primary health care discussed in Belarus
  10-03-2011
  Representatives of the health and finance ministries, as well as the regions, met in Minsk on 1–2 March 2011 to discuss ways to further improve the financing of primary health care in Belarus.
• Observatory summer school 2011: the ageing crisis
  26-01-2011
  The Observatory Venice Summer School 2011 will take place from 24-30 July 2011 on the island of San Servolo in Venice, and will address the issue of health systems responses to the ageing crisis.
• New Greek HiT
  26-01-2011
  Despite success in improving the health of the population, the Greek health care system faces serious structural problems concerning the organization, financing and delivery of services.
• New Eurohealth: Measuring and managing performance
  06-01-2011
  This issue of Eurohealth focuses on performance monitoring to maintain high quality health services. Also covered are the topics of user fees in the Czech Republic; private sector providers in England; barriers to physician workforce development in Uzbekistan; and providing a solid evidence base for policy makers through the ECHI initiative.
• New Spanish HiT
  20-12-2010
  The new Spanish HiT was launched as part of the Spanish Presidency of the EU. It focuses on the consequences of the totally devolved status of the health system, consolidated in 2002, and the implementation of the road map established by the 2003 Spanish National Health System (SNS) Cohesion and Quality Act.
• Health technology assessment book now in Russian
  16-12-2010
  This book reviews the relationship between health technology assessment and policy-making, and examines how to increase the contribution such research makes to policy- and decision-making processes. It is now available in Russian.
• Launch of National Lead Institution (NLI) network
  15-12-2010
  The Observatory is pleased to announce the launch of its network of National Lead Institutions (NLIs).
• New Euro Observer: Health Technology Assessment decision-making across six agencies
  03-12-2010
  The Winter issue looks at the decision-making processes of six HTA agencies in Australia, Canada, England, France, Scotland and Sweden. Case studies focus on cancer, orphan and central nervous system drugs.
• Azerbaijan HiT now in Russian
  03-12-2010
  The Azerbaijan HiT is now available to read in Russian. The health care system in Azerbaijan still has many of the key hallmarks of the Soviet model of health care. However, relatively low levels of government expenditure on health since independence has meant that levels of out of pocket payments are high. This has serious implications for access to care and financial risk protection for vulnerable households.
• New template for writing HiTs
  01-12-2010
  This new edition of the template has been developed specifically to make HiTs easier to write and read. It incorporates many useful comments and suggestions from users and contributors and is the result of a wide consultation process. Several sections have been reorganised to improve accessibility and clarity for readers, while the design has been greatly improved to help authors and editors in the writing process.
• HiTs to be included in Medline
  25-11-2010
  The Observatory is delighted to announce that its Health System in Transition (HiT) country profiles will now be included in MEDLINE.
• Health financing in the EU book now available in Russian
  19-11-2010
  Focusing on the three health care financing functions – collection, pooling and purchasing – as well as on coverage, this book provides an overview of the Member States of the European Union and is now available in Russian.
• Andrija Stampar Medal 2010 for Observatory co-director Elias Mossialos
  16-11-2010
  At the occasion of its Annual Conference, ASPHER, the Association of Schools of Public Health in the European Region, awards the prestigious Andrija Stampar Medal to a distinguished person for excellence in the field of Public Health. This year the medal goes to the Observatory’s co-Director, Elias Mossialos.
• Fighting against cancer today: A policy summary
  01-11-2010
  This report summarizes the main conclusions and policy lessons arising from the cancer control activities carried out under the Slovenian Presidency of the European Union (EU) in 2008. It reflects ideas that emerged from the policy dialogues, conferences and workshops that were held under the Slovenian Presidency and the key evidence in two publications arising from these activities: Responding to the challenge of cancer in Europe (Coleman et al., 2008) (published by the Slovenian Institute of Public Health (IVZ)) and a special issue of the European Journal of Cancer (EJC).
• New policy briefs published for the Belgian European Union Presidency Ministerial Conference on the European Health Workforce
  21-10-2010
  Two joint HEN-Observatory policy briefs and two policy summaries were prepared.
• New joint policy brief: How can telehealth help in the provision of integrated care?
  18-10-2010
  Telehealth, the provision of care at a distance, is a key component in future integrated care. Today's segregated telehealth applications still require linking into more comprehensive eHealth strategies, in which clinical pathways and service delivery processes are fully coordinated and patient data safely shared.
• New Eurohealth: Measuring the quality of long-term care
  12-10-2010
  This issue of Eurohealth is devoted to examining different experiences in seven countries.
• New Eurohealth: Migration and health in the European Union
  23-09-2010
  Regardless of their legal status, migrants can be at particular risk of poor physical and mental health; they may be isolated after arrival in their host country or be unaware of any entitlement to use publicly funded health care services. Even where available, services may not be suitable to the needs of many migrant groups.
• New Euro Observer: Hospital payment systems in Europe
  15-09-2010
  The Autumn issue looks at hospital payment systems in Europe, focusing on the move towards greater use of case-based payments (DRG-type systems). Case studies come from Germany, the Netherlands and Finland.
• Launch of HiT at Belgian EU Presidency
  08-09-2010
  At the occasion of the Belgian Presidency conference on health workforce on 9 September 2010 the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies and the Belgian Healthcare Knowledge Centre (KCE) are proudly presenting the newest health system review on Belgium, which has been produced in close collaboration with and supported by the Belgian Ministry of Health.
• Baltic policy dialogue on the effects of the economic crisis on the access to medicines
  08-09-2010
  For the seventh time in a row the Ministers of Health together with senior officials and policymakers from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania met in the annual Baltic Policy Dialogue to discuss current challenges they face in moving health and health systems forward in their country.
• Announcing the new Observatory/BMJ collaboration
  27-08-2010
  Recent Observatory work is being published in the British Medical Journal under a new occasional series called Health Systems Perspectives. The series focuses specifically on developments in the European Union and the EU health policy agenda with two articles already published on the antibiotic pipeline and user charges.
• New Belgian HiT
  27-08-2010
  The Belgian HiT profile (2010) presents the evolution of the health system since 2007, including detailed information on new policies. While no drastic reforms were undertaken, policy-makers have pursued the goals of improving access to good quality of care while making the system sustainable. Reforms to increase the accessibility include measures to reduce the out-of-pocket payments of more vulnerable populations; quality of care reforms included incentives to better integrate different levels of care and the establishment of information systems; several measures on pharmaceutical products have aimed to reduce costs for insurers and patients, while maintaining the quality of care.
• New book: Implementing health financing reform
  27-08-2010
  This book analyses health financing reforms in central and eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and central Asia. Reforms are analysed first from a functional perspective, focusing on revenue collection, pooling, purchasing and benefit entitlements. Subsequent chapters analyse particular financing reform topics including: financing of capital costs; links between reforms and the wider public finance system; financing of public health services; voluntary health insurance; informal payments; and accountability in financing institutions.
• New book: Policies and incentives for promoting innovation in antibiotic research
  27-08-2010
  This book analyses the proposed policies and incentive mechanisms to curb the growth of antibiotic resistance and prevent major morbidity and mortality from multidrug-resistant bacterial infections. It sheds light on the key issues that can help policy-makers reach informed, concrete decisions on how to avert this potential public health crisis.
• New Tajikistan HiT
  25-08-2010
  Tajikistan’s health system is undergoing a transition to new forms of management, financing and health care provision. Following independence and the civil war, informal out-of-pocket payments became the main source of revenue. With the aim of ensuring equitable access to health care, the Ministry of Health has now developed a basic benefit package for people in need and formal co-payments for other groups of the population.
• New Azerbaijan HiT
  21-07-2010
  The health care system in Azerbaijan still has many of the key hallmarks of the Soviet model of health care. However, relatively low levels of government expenditure on health since independence has meant that levels of out of pocket payments are high. This has serious implications for access to care and financial risk protection for vulnerable households.
• New Euro Observer: Specialist human resources in Europe
  13-07-2010
  This issue of Euro Observer focuses on the planning of the specialist physician workforce in Europe, in light of changing epidemiological and demographic trends. Country case studies come from Germany, Sweden, Romania and Greece.
• New book: Health Systems Governance in Europe. The Role of EU Law and Policy
  01-07-2010
  This book provides policy-makers with a compelling and rigorous analysis of the real and potential impacts of EU integration on the organisation of health care provision and the protection of public health.
• New Georgian HiT
  01-07-2010
  This report chiefly focuses on developments in Georgia after the Rose Revolution in 2003, which brought fundamental change to the role of government in providing, financing and managing health care. Challenges include weak regulation and high levels of out-of-pocket payments, which reduce access to services for much of the population.
• New Eurohealth: Critical assessment of periodic health examinations
  01-07-2010
  The new WHO Regional Director for Europe, Zsuzsanna Jakab, sets out her vision of the way forward for the WHO Regional Office. An occasional debate focuses on issues around regulation in the evaluation of new drugs and two articles look at policy implementation.
• New Netherlands HiT
  01-07-2010
  The new Netherlands HiT was produced in close collaboration with the Dutch Institute for Health Services Research (NIVEL) and the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), and supported by the Dutch Ministry of Health.
• First Korean HiT
  01-07-2010
  The Observatory's first health system profile on Korea focuses on major health care reforms implemented in the last 10 years.
• New book:Tackling Chronic Disease in Europe: Strategies, interventions and challenges
  01-07-2010
  Chronic conditions in Europe account for 86% of total premature deaths, a new Observatory book addresses this challenge.
• New Italian HiT
  01-07-2010
  The new Italian HiT explores future challenges which include overcoming the large variability in the quality of health care among regions, providing a national policy for the governance of patient mobility, and the reorganization of primary health care. 
• Extended deadline for Observatory Summer School
  01-07-2010
  Following our previous announcements, we would like to announce that the deadline for applying to our Summer School will be extended until 7th of June. The Observatory Venice Summer School 2010, which will take place from 25 to 31 July 2010 on the island of San Servolo in Venice, will address the issue of EU integration and health systems: challenges and opportunities for patients, professionals and policy-makers.