Health At A Glance: Europe 2024
Europe finds itself at a pivotal moment in the evolution of health systems across the continent. The health landscape is changing rapidly, requiring governments, healthcare providers, and society at large to address new and complex health challenges while building on the successes of the past.
Several megatrends are bound to profoundly influence the future of healthcare. Demographic shifts, driven by increasing life expectancy and declining birth rates, are placing growing demands on health and long-term care services, while reducing the working-age population needed to both finance – through taxation or social security contributions – and deliver these services. At the same time, rapid advances in medical technology – from enhanced diagnostics to the digital transformation of health systems and the integration of artificial intelligence tools – offer potential to improve efficiency and expand access to care, but also raise questions about equity and necessary safeguards against misuse. Moreover, the growing health impacts of climate change, such as the increasing frequency and severity of heatwaves resulting in more heat-related illnesses and fatalities, underscore the need for both more resilient health systems and a sustainable, green transition also within health systems. We need forward-looking policy solutions that fully harness the potential of new technologies while upholding the core principles of universal access to high-quality care – a hallmark of healthcare in the EU.
This 2024 edition of Health at a Glance: Europe comes at a critical juncture, providing valuable analysis and insights to support decision-making across European countries. This year’s thematic section examines two interconnected priorities: (a) promoting healthy longevity, and (b) addressing health workforce shortages. These challenges are fundamental to managing the shifting balance between demand and supply capacity in European health systems.
Healthy longevity can be defined as living a long life in good physical and mental health, without overlooking the social aspects of well-being. Demographic shifts across the EU are profound, with the proportion of the population aged 65 and above having increased from 16% in 2000 to over 21% in 2023, with projections indicating a further rise to nearly 30% by 2050. Despite overall gains in life expectancy, the quality of these additional years remains a critical concern, as evidenced by more than 40% of EU citizens aged 65 and above living with at least two chronic conditions. Promoting healthy longevity requires a change in the health systems paradigm, moving from reactive to proactive, comprehensive prevention actions implemented across the life course.
