Shocking: Do only Romania and Albania have worse healthcare than Hungary in the EU?

Photo: MTI/Komka Péter

The Health Consumer Powerhouse created the Euro Health Consumer Index 2018 report, revealing shocking results about the healthcare system of EU countries. Hungary finished at the bottom, again, preceded only by Romania and Albania.

The Health Consumer Powerhouse (HCP) is a Swedish health policy think tank which specialises in comparing healthcare systems throughout Europe. It produces the Euro health consumer index and other indexes comparing healthcare.

The Euro Health Consumer Index (EHCI) is a comparison of European health care systems based on a number of factors like waiting times, results, and generosity. Most recent results indicate that generally, “European healthcare keeps producing better results.” Unfortunately, this is not particularly true for Hungary.

The most recent study was working with data from 2018, and researchers looked at six factors: Patient rights and information, Accessibility, Outcomes, Range and reach of services, Prevention, and Pharmaceuticals. Each country could gain points for each of these factors, resulting in a total score. Total scores were then compared and contrasted.

“Poland and Hungary have not done well in the EHCI in recent years, despite having good and plentiful medical education and a long tradition of solidarity-financed public healthcare. The reason(s) for this is not obvious.”

Researchers indicate that the governments “seem to have focussed on things other than the optimal running of the country” emphasising issues like the oppression of free press and migrant propaganda.

“Since the start of the EHCI, ongoing political discussions on fundamental reform in Poland and Hungary have yet delivered little. The public and the medical profession deserve better.”

Hungary’s scores: