Approaches to Health Efficiency across the European Space through the Lens of the Health Budget Effort

Abstract

In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, financial resources allocated to the health system have been refocused according to priority 0: fighting the pandemic. The main objective of this research is to identify the vulnerabilities affecting the health budget effort in the EU and in the Member States during the health crisis period. The analysis takes into account relevant statistical indicators both in terms of financial allocation to health and expenditure on health protection of the population in the Member States, with the effect being tracked even during the pandemic period. The novelty of the study is the identification of viable directions of intervention based on the structural determination of expenditures related to measures to combat the pandemic and making proposals for changes in public policies based on the determination of the effectiveness of budget allocations in health in relation to the proposed purpose. The main outcome of the study is the identification of the vulnerabilities and the projection of measures to mitigate them in the medium and long term.

Assessing social protection influence on health status in the European Union

“…The results obtained from structural equation modeling support hypothesis H1. According to the research findings, we identified a significant positive correlation between healthcare expenditures and health status, confirming previous research conclusions (1,28,43,56,57) about the importance of healthcare investments in promoting a healthy population and societal well-being. We found a significant positive influence of social protection expenditures on health status mediated through healthcare expenditure.…”

“…Academic literature ( 1 , 6 ) signals financial allocations for healthcare and social protection services imbalances. Social protection must include easy and free access to healthcare services for vulnerable populations exposed to poverty and aging to promote equitable healthcare access.…”

“…Improving the efficiency of financial and human resource allocation to healthcare systems within the European Union represents a priority for European social protection and healthcare strategies. The health of the European population is monitored through indicators such as population health improvement concerning the quality of healthcare services, attracting and retaining specialists in the medical system, or enhancing the quality of life in connection with new treatments and medical protocols in the field ( 1 ). The fragmentation of the healthcare system and inadequate social protection, as observed in the American system, may generate challenges to the population’s health, which can rapidly deteriorate during pandemics, as seen in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic ( 2 ).…”