Prague, Czech Republic, August 30th, 2024 – GLOBSEC has launched its 2023 Health Readiness Index (HRI) at the GLOBSEC Forum 2024 in Prague, one of Europe’s foremost dialogue platforms. The Index offers a comprehensive ranking of healthcare systems across Europe, designed to help decision-makers, politicians, and the media improve healthcare resilience in their countries.
Healthcare as a Strategic Investment
During the panel dedicated to the launch of the HRI, speakers agreed the COVID-19 pandemic underscored the critical role of healthcare systems as the foundation for national security, resilience, and sustainability. However, new challenges, such as aging populations and rising non-communicable diseases (NCDs), now threaten to place even greater pressure on these systems.
“Healthcare is not just a cost; it’s a strategic investment in our future,” said one of the panellists, Jasper Kunow, AVP, Portugal and Central Europe Cluster, MSD. “We need to realize that the path to a thriving future for Central and Easter Europe starts with a strong commitment to healthcare because healthier populations are more productive and can contribute more effectively to the economy. We must shift our perception of healthcare from being just a cost to seeing it as a strategic investment in the region’s prosperity and collective security. Investing in healthcare yields substantial returns.”
Key Findings from the 2023 GLOBSEC HRI
The 2023 Health Readiness Index, which evaluates countries based on 38 indicators, reveals significant disparities across Europe. Norway leads the rankings with a score of 73, followed by the Netherlands and Sweden. “Among Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries, Slovenia, Croatia, and Czechia performed the best but still fall below the EU average. Conversely, Bulgaria, Poland, and Latvia ranked at the bottom, indicating ongoing challenges in healthcare resilience,” commented Martin Smatana, the author of the Index.
The top-performing countries share several key traits:
- Investment in Healthcare: These nations view healthcare spending as a long-term investment rather than a cost.
- Focus on Prevention: Early diagnostics and preventive health measures are prioritized, reducing the long-term burden of treatment.
- Embrace of Innovation: Rapid adoption of new technologies and treatments is a hallmark of the best-performing healthcare systems.
- Strong Healthcare Workforce: A focus on maintaining a robust healthcare workforce is essential for high-quality care.
- Stable Leadership: Consistent and stable leadership in the health sector enables the implementation of long-term strategies.
“Investing in healthcare has far-reaching economic benefits. Research shows that better health could add $12 trillion to global GDP by 2040. Prevention is particularly cost-effective; every euro spent on vaccines can yield a return of 16 to 44 times the cost of treatment avoided,” Jasper Kunow added.
The 2023 GLOBSEC Health Readiness Index highlights the need for renewed focus on healthcare resilience across Europe. As the EU seeks to remain competitive on the global stage, improving healthcare systems is vital. GLOBSEC’s Index provides a critical benchmark for countries to measure their progress and implement necessary reforms.