Up to 20% of European households experience healthcare costs that prevent them from covering other basic needs such as food, housing and heating, mainly due to out-of-pocket costs for medicines.
This is indicated by the data collected by the World Health Organization (WHO) through a new digital platform that tracks progress in affordable access to healthcare in 45 countries and was launched this Thursday on the eve of the Universal Health Coverage Day.
UHC Watch is the first digital platform of its kind dedicated to monitoring universal health coverage indicators and coverage policy in Europe and Central Asia.
Developed by the Barcelona Office of WHO Europe for Health Systems Financing, the platform will help countries in the region to Accelerate your move toward stronger universal health coverage.
“The fact that up to 20% of households in some European countries face catastrophic health expenditures is a stark reminder of the urgent need to prioritize universal health coverage,” said the WHO regional director. for Europe.
Hans Henri P. Kluge emphasized that no one should have to choose between paying for medicine and covering basic needs such as food and housing: “The new platform UHC Watch “It is a game-changer, giving policymakers the evidence and analysis they need to ensure health systems protect people from economic hardship and provide equitable and affordable health coverage.”
Medications, hearing aids and dental care, among the most expensive
The new platform reveals that the economic hardship caused by out-of-pocket payments for medicines, products such as hearing aids and dental care affects millions of people (even in the richest countries in Europe), further worsening their financial situation and even leading many to poverty.
In most of the countries studied (28 of 40), the incidence of health spending making it difficult to cover other basic needs has increased over time, with an average increase of 1.7%.
The heavy reliance on out-of-pocket payments within health systems not only causes financial difficulties, but It also creates barriers to access, leading to an unmet need for healthcare..
On the eve of Universal Health Coverage Day, WHO renews its call for countries to strengthen their commitment to ensuring that everyone can access quality health care when they need it without experiencing financial hardship.
Indicators at national and international level
Designed for politicians, analysts, academics, journalists and civil society advocacy groups, UHC Watch provides internationally comparable and country-specific data.
At the national level, it includes 40 indicators on financial difficulties related to out-of-pocket payments, unmet healthcare needs and healthcare spending.
It also has a coverage policy explorer covering 45 countries (population coverage, service coverage, user fees, voluntary health insurance, and coverage policy changes).
WHO’s Director of National Health Policies and Systems in Europe said the platform provides countries with clear data and guidance to remove financial barriers to healthcare. “With this tool, we can accelerate progress towards universal health coverage and ensure that no one is left behind.”
“Health systems must protect people, not impoverish them. However, for millions of people in Europe and Central Asia, the burden of direct payments pushes families to the brink of poverty,” added Natasha Azzopardi Muscat.
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