EU health systems classification: a new proposal from EURO-HEALTHY

Abstract

BackgroundIn accordance the WHO framework of health system functions and by using the indicators collected within the EURO-HEALTHY project, this work aims to contribute to the discussion on the classification of EU health systems.MethodsThree methods were used in this article: factor analysis, cluster analysis and descriptive analysis; data were mainly collected from the WHO and Eurostat databases.ResultsThe most relevant result is the proposed classification of health systems into the following clusters: Austria-Germany, Central and Northern Countries, Southern Countries, Eastern Countries ‘A’ and Eastern Countries ‘B’.ConclusionsThe proposed typology contributes to the discussion about how to classify health systems; the typology of EU health systems allows comparisons of characteristics and health system performance across clusters and policy assessment and policy recommendation within each cluster.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12913-018-3323-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The Role of Cohesion Policy Funds in Decreasing the Health Gaps Measured by the EURO-HEALTHY Population Health Index

“…On the other hand, regions across the EU, regardless of their level of development, face low health scores in the dimension of aging; no significant differences between LD and MD regions were found, meaning that all countries are experiencing an increase in their older populations. Nonetheless, unbalanced demographic structures could have a worse impact on fragile and less prepared social and health systems [35,42]. According to the literature, CP fund allocation can ameliorate those impacts though investment in categories of intervention dealing with, for example, "ICT solutions for healthy and active aging" [43], "lifelong learning opportunities" [44], "employment at an older age" [45], and "access to affordable, sustainable, and high-quality health and social services" [46].…”

“…Due to the comprehensive nature of health inequalities, including, among others, the various social, cultural, behavioral, environmental, and political differences amongst the respective healthcare systems across Europe [4,35], there is a need for enhanced evidence on the main drivers of regional health inequality to better guide policies and the allocation of CP funds.…”

The Impact of Public Health Expenditure on Health Component of Human Capital

“…On the other hand, these researchers also highlight the importance of the country's legislation. Ferreira, Tavares, Quintal, & Santana (2018) describe health system by highlighting its 3 main responsibilities: health improvement, treating and protection against the costs of illnesses.…”

Classifications of health care systems: Do existing typologies reflect the particularities of the Global South?

“…Qualitative classification Bambra et al, 2005Lee et al, 2008Wendt et al, 2009Kam, 2012Frenk & Donabedian, 1987Hurst, 1991Roemer, 1991Elling, 1994Moran, 2000Wendt et al, 2009Toth, 20162018Bazzoli et al, 1999Wendt, 2009Reibling, 2010Joumard et al, 2010Borisova, 2011Kam, 2012Sam, 2014Mackintosh et al, 2016Hagenaars et al, 2017Bertin & Pantalone, 2018Ferreira et al, 2018Roemer, 1960Anderson, 1963Field, 1973Maxwell, 1974Terris, 1978OECD, 1987Lassey et al, 1997Saltman & Figueras, 1997;Londoño and Frenk, 1997;Busse andJakubowski, 1998 Tuohy, 1999;Freeman, 2000Docteur and Oxley, 2003Mesa-Lago, 2007Freeman & Schmid, 2008;Thomson et al, 2009Toth, 2010Santerre and Neun, 2010 European Union, 2012 Frenk and Donabedian (1987) produce a matrix, which differentiates between concentrated and dispersed state control and eligibility based on citizenship, contribution or poverty. Hurst (1991) arrives at six possible types distinguishing the p...…”

“…Financing structure and schemes Anderson, 1963;Bambra, 2005;Borisova, 2011;Docteur and Oxley, 2003;European Union, 2012;Ferreira et al, 2018;Field, 1973;Freeman, 2000;Freeman and Schmid, 2008;Frenk and Londoño, 1997;Hagenaars et al, 2018;Hurst, 1991;Jakubowski and Busse, 1998;Kam, 2012;Lee et al, 2008;Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, 1987;Saltman and Figueras, 1997;Sam, 2014;Santerre and Neun, 2010;Thomson et al, 2009;Toth, 2010Toth, , 2016Wendt, 2009Wendt, , 2014Mackintosh et al, 2016 Health expenditure Borisova, 2011;European Union, 2012;Fe...…”