What do the EUHP Factbook data reveal?
Private hospitalisation, which accounts for 24.3% of the market in Europe, plays an important and recognised role that complements that of other healthcare providers. For the OECD, the detailed findings in the EUHP Factbook are primarily factual data that enable the various healthcare providers to be positioned. Most healthcare systems in Europe are based on a plurality of actors with different statuses, which coexist and, if integrated into the public healthcare system, each contribute to their healthcare mission: providing care, facilitating access, reducing inequalities, etc. The Factbook allows all these indicators and trends to be monitored.
The countries that joined the European Union from 2003 onwards have made enormous progress in terms of life expectancy and the quality of healthcare provision. The curves show an interesting acceleration in performance indicators. So EU integration has been very beneficial for these countries in terms of strengthening their healthcare systems, and private hospitalisation has certainly contributed to this.
What major challenges do health systems face, from the OECD’s perspective?
In terms of health, societies are undergoing a fourfold transition: epidemiological, with the continuing rise in the prevalence of chronic diseases; demographic, with an ageing population being offered ever more healthcare opportunities; technological, with the digitisation of healthcare systems and the integration of AI; and finally environmental. Climate change is not just an ecological issue, it is also a major public health concern because of the health response it requires and the contribution of healthcare systems to the carbon footprint of our societies. Added to these factors are systemic problems: chronic underfunding of healthcare, HR shortages, lack of anticipation and preparation for disruptive events, inequalities in access to care, etc.
How can we bounce back?
In this tense context and given these challenges, available resources, investment capacity, organisational flexibility and efficiency are important assets for continuing to develop and meet citizens’ expectations. In the past, the private hospital sector has contributed to the evolution of healthcare systems, for example by playing a pioneering role in the development of outpatient care. Thanks to its agility and investment capacity, the private hospital sector will certainly have a role to play in meeting the challenges that lie ahead.
