Imbalances in healthcare systems

Subject: Imbalances in healthcare systems

A few weeks ago I launched an internet dialogue among Hungarian voters on the utilisation of EU funds. The clear, unambiguous message from the several thousand proposals received was the following: the vast majority of Hungarians would, if they themselves could decide, prefer to use EU funding to improve healthcare services and patient safety. The state of Hungary’s healthcare system poses a risk to national security. The tragic state of health care in Hungary is clear from the fact that the country still performs three times more amputations than the rest of the EU. The figure is so high because, quite simply, ‘it makes sense’ for the system. Hospitals receive less funding for vascular reconstructive surgery than for amputations. Nowadays, more people die of hospital infections in Hungary than in car accidents. When Hungary joined the EU it had 38 000 practising doctors. Since then, over 7 000 have migrated to the West, and the number of nurses and other healthcare professionals who have emigrated is much higher. 344 GP practices in Hungary currently have a long-term lack of staff.

1. What has the Commission done so far, and what will it do in the future, to redress the harsh imbalance between the Member States’ healthcare systems?

2. Is the Commission a partner in establishing a European minimum healthcare provision framework? Can I count on the Commission in this regard?

Answer given by Ms Kyriakides on behalf of the European Commission

(24 February 2020)

As part of its mission to promote economic and social progress, the Commission recognises the absolute importance of ensuring timely access to affordable, preventive and curative healthcare of good quality (1) for all EU citizens. Although the organisation and delivery of health services and medical care remain the responsibility of Member States (2), the Commission supports Member States’ health policy and monitors the performance of their health systems within the framework of the European Semester (3).

In its 2019 analysis for Hungary (4), the Commission highlighted the gravity of the challenges and shortcomings of the Hungarian healthcare system, which led the Commission to recommend that Hungary take measures ‘to improve health outcomes, by supporting preventive health measures and strengthening primary healthcare’ (5).

To support Member States in their reforms towards health system improvement and convergence to high standards of affordability, accessibility and quality, the Commission has implemented a wide range of strategic action s (6) to support the modernisation of healthcare infrastructure and improve the efficiency of Europe’s health system, including through European structural and investment (ESI) funds, of which Hungary was one of the largest beneficiaries in the 2014-2020 period (7).

The refocus of the European Semester on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (8) will further enhance the attention on health systems performance, particularly in the context of universal health coverage.

⋅1∙ Principle 16 of the European Pillar of Social Rights: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/sites/beta-political/files/social-summit-european-pillar-social-rights-

booklet_en.pdf

⋅2∙ Article 168(7) TFEU: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A12008E168

⋅3∙ https://ec.europa.eu/info/business-economy-euro/economic-and-fiscal-policy-coordination/eu-economic-governance-monitoring-prevention-correction/european-

semester_en

⋅4∙ Country Report 2019: Hungary https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/files/file_import/2019-european-semester-country-report-hungary_en.pdf

⋅5∙ https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:52019DC0517&from=EN

⋅6∙ https://ec.europa.eu/health/policies/overview_en

⋅7∙ http://www.esifundsforhealth.eu/sites/default/files/2019-03/Final%20Report%20ESI%20Funds%20for%20Health_2.pdf

⋅8∙ Political Guidelines for the next European Commission 2019-2024: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/sites/beta-political/files/political-guidelines-next-

commission_en.pdf