[EQ] Quality in and Equality of Access to Healthcare Services

Quality in and Equality of Access to Healthcare Services

 

The study was coordinated by the European Health Management Association  with the scientific lead of the European Centre for Social Welfare Policy and Research.

European Commission - Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, 2008

 

            Available online PDF [59p.] at: http://www.euro.centre.org/data/1215506214_37409.pdf

 

Summary at: http://www.euro.centre.org/data/1215506103_53222.pdf

 

“….This study reviews barriers of access to health care that persist in EU countries and presents an analysis of what policies countries have adopted to mitigate these barriers. It has a focus on the situation of migrants, older people with functional limitations, and people with mental disorders.

 

What are the barriers to accessing high quality health care for people  at risk of social exclusion? What are the interdependencies between poverty, social exclusion and problems of accessing health care? What policies have EU Member States put in place to improve access and quality of health care for vulnerable groups of the population?

 

The study is based on eight country reports: Finland, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Spain, and the United Kingdom. This was complemented with findings from the literature and European comparisons….”

 

“…Ensuring equitable access to high-quality healthcare constitutes a key challenge for health systems throughout Europe. Despite differences in health system size, structure and financing, evidence suggests that across Europe particular sections of the population are disproportionately affected by barriers to accessing healthcare. Studies have also shown that difficulties in accessing healthcare are compounded by poverty and social exclusion, and that poverty and social exclusion compound difficulties in accessing healthcare…”

 

 

Contents

Executive summary

Part 1

1 Introduction

1.1 The European policy context

1.2 Previous research initiatives

1.2.1 Health inequalities across socio-economic groups in Europe

1.2.2 Inequalities in access to and utilisation of healthcare services

1.3 The scope of the study

 

Part 2

2 Barriers of Access to Health Care

2.2 Coverage and cost-sharing barriers

2.3 Conclusions and Recommendations

3 Broader System Barriers

3.1 Introduction

3.2 Geographical barriers of access to health services

3.3 Organisational barriers

3.4 Supply-side responsiveness

3.5 Health literacy, voice and health beliefs

3.6 Conclusions and Recommendations

 

Part 3

4 Migrants, asylum seekers and illegal immigrants

4.2 Migrants and ethnic minorities

4.3 Asylum seekers and refugees

4.4 Illegal immigrants: ‘sans papiers’ or ‘undocumented migrants’

4.5 The situation of older migrants

4.6 Conclusions

4.7 Recommendations

 

5 Older people with functional limitations

5.1 Introduction

5.2 Age, functional limitation and compounded health risks

5.3 Barriers to access

5.4 Barriers to Access – context specific

5.5 Policy initiatives

5.6 Conclusions

5.7 Recommendations

 

6 People with mental health problems

6.1 General health care needs of people with mental health disorders

6.2 Access to health care for people with mental health disorders

6.3 Barriers in access to general health care for people with mental health disorders

6.4 Policy initiatives and their impact on access to general health care for people with mental health disorders

6.5 Conclusions

6.6 Recommendations

 

Part 4

7 Conclusion and Policy Recommendations

7.1 Conclusions

7.2 Policy Recommendations

7.2.1 General recommendations

7.2.2 Migrants, asylum seekers and illegal immigrants

7.2.3 Older people with functional limitations

7.2.4 People with mental health problems

References

 

Report Authors:

Manfred Huber, Anderson Stanciole, European Centre for Social Welfare Policy and Research, Vienna; Jeni Bremner, European Health Management Association, Brussels, Kristian Wahlbeck, National Research & Development Centre for Welfare & Health (STAKES), Finland.

 

Contact: Manfred Huber, Director Health and Care, huber@euro.centre.org

Website: http://www.euro.centre.org/detail.php?xml_id=866

 

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