The WHO European Region has made real, but uneven, progress towards EVAP goals and objectives, including measles and rubella elimination. As of the end of 2016, 42 of 53 countries had interrupted endemic measles transmission. However, following a record low of around 5000 cases in 2016, the disease rebounded in 2017, affecting more than 21 […]
Greater efforts to protect people from vaccine-preventable diseases Read More »
Assessing the performance of health systems is essential to understanding how they work, and therefore to improving them. It is a complex process that involves statistical measurements, deep analysis and development of practical actions. Sound health system performance assessment (HSPA) is achieved through the joint actions of different players, including policy-makers, statistical institutes, researchers, healthcare
Health systems performance review Read More »
Those who experience social and economic disadvantage are more likely to be in poor health and have shorter lives than more advantaged peers. Full analysis of the risk factors for and trends in health inequalities is complex and requires comprehensive and comparable health and social data. When national and regional authorities have such data which
Using Health and Social Data to monitor Health Inequalities Read More »
Improving health system efficiency is a compelling policy goal, especially in systems facing serious resource constraints. However, in order to improve efficiency we must know how to properly measure it. A new policy brief therefore proposes an analytic framework for understanding and interpreting many of the most common health care efficiency indicators. The brief’s key
How to make sense of health system efficiency comparisons Read More »
Young people in care benefit from the psychological, emotional and social support gained via social media networks – according to new research from the University of East Anglia’s Centre for Research on the Child and Family (CRCF). Until now, the automatic assumption has been that platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp only pose a
The Benefits of Social Media for Young People in Care Read More »
People with long-term health problems are at higher risk of poverty, social exclusion, severe material deprivation and unemployment. The rising prevalence of chronic diseases coupled with economic uncertainty exacerbates the problem. Innovative strategies are needed to help people with chronic diseases to remain professionally active. In 2015, in response, the Commission co-funded the PATHWAYS Project
Helping people with chronic disease stay in the workforce Read More »
International Women’s Day – an occasion that celebrates women’s achievements, from political to social, whilst continuing to call for gender equality and women’s rights – I would like to remind people of one key prerequisite for meeting our aspirations: health. The World Health Organisation defines health as a “state of complete physical, mental and social
A message from Commissioner Andriukaitis for International Women’s Day 2018 Read More »
The EU Expert Group on Health Systems Performance Assessment (HSPA) has published its report “A new drive for primary care in Europe: rethinking the assessment tools and methodologies” to help policy makers and health practitioners to set objectives and measure progress towards improving primary care services for the benefit of patients. The report examines core aspects of
Health Systems in the EU: Commission publishes report on Primary Care Read More »
The WHO European Region has the highest level of alcohol consumption in the world. However, the level of awareness of the link between alcohol consumption and increased risk of cancer remains low. World Cancer Day on 4 February 2018 was an opportunity to reinforce the important message that alcohol use is associated with an increased
Raising awareness of the link between alcohol and cancer Read More »
Santé Publique France and the DREES have published a summary of the 2017 report on French Population Health in English. Socio-territorial health inequalities are mapped by examining several morbidity and mortality indicators, and the social disadvantage index of different areas. Life expectancy in France is high compared to many Member States: 80.5 years for women
2017 Report on the French population health Read More »
