Last week, the European Institute of Public Administration (EIPA) hosted a Conference, presenting an international benchmarking study on general healthcare performance, public health challenges, and the role of sports and physical activity in improving health outcomes. The findings shed light on both achievements and persistent challenges in healthcare systems, health disparities, and lifestyle-related health issues.
The study is part of the International Benchmarking Study 2022–2025, EIPA conducts in cooperation with the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations of the Netherlands.
Key Findings on Healthcare Performance
The analysis suggests that European healthcare systems perform relatively well, with higher expenditures on long-term care correlating with lower preventable and treatable mortality rates. However, some critical issues remain:
- Preventive care is underfunded: The Netherlands allocates only 3% of its healthcare expenditure to preventive care.
- Healthy life expectancy is declining: In the Netherlands, it dropped by 4.9% between 2011 and 2022, from 61.5 to 58.5 years.
- Infant mortality remains high: Despite strong performance in treatable mortality, the Netherlands has a relatively high infant mortality rate, partly due to low childhood vaccination coverage.
- Public perception of corruption in the healthcare is concerning: Between 80% and 90% of the Dutch population perceives corruption in the healthcare system.
On a positive note, the Netherlands has seen a sharp decline in daily smoking, from 22% in 2010 to 12% in 2022. This trend is observed across Europe, though smoking rates remain higher in France (25%), Greece (25%), and Italy and Spain (around 20%). Additionally, more than 80% of Dutch citizens report being satisfied with healthcare availability—significantly higher than in Ireland, the UK, and Spain (65%) or Greece and Hungary (45%).
Public Health Challenges: Socioeconomic and Gender Disparities
Despite overall progress, several disparities persist:
- Health inequalities: Women tend to have higher healthy life expectancy at 65, while lower-income groups report worse health outcomes.
- Obesity rates are rising, especially among teenagers from disadvantaged backgrounds.
- Financial hardship and healthcare costs: High healthcare expenditures may not always translate into efficiency, with complex patients often transferred to more expensive institutional care.
- Bureaucracy and inefficiency: The presence of multiple healthcare actors contributes to high administrative costs.
Sports and Physical Activity: A Crucial Public Health Tool
The conference also examined the role of sports and physical activity in improving health indicators. Key insights include:
- Only 40% of Europeans engage in physical activity at least once a week, a concerning figure given rising obesity rates.
- Government spending has a weak correlation with sports participation, whereas private spending plays a much stronger role.
- Sedentary lifestyles pose a major health risk, with excessive sitting contributing to long-term health issues. As one expert put it, “Our sedentary lifestyle is killing us.”
Policy Recommendations
To improve health outcomes, the following actions were proposed:
- Integrate physical activity into prevention policies rather than focusing solely on competitive sports.
- Encourage daily movement, such as cycling or walking, rather than just gym-based exercise.
- Promote non-competitive sports to attract younger generations.
- Expand free local initiatives, like group walking events, to increase public participation.
- Strengthen EU-level collaboration to tackle lifestyle-related diseases.
The Role of the Private Sector
The conference also highlighted the influence of industries on public health:
- The tobacco and gambling industries continue to pose health risks, for example with 24/7 smartphone accessibility fueling gambling addiction.
- Supermarkets and food industries play a key role in shaping dietary habits and must be held accountable for promoting healthier choices.
Conclusion
While Europe’s healthcare systems perform well overall, challenges such as health inequalities, preventable diseases, and inefficient spending remain critical concerns. The conference underscored the need for targeted policy interventions, particularly in preventive care, physical activity promotion, and tackling socioeconomic disparities. A collaborative effort between governments, the private sector, and EU institutions will be essential in building a healthier, more equitable future for all Europeans.
