A new book examined issues relating to healthcare and European Union law. As member states had increasingly experimented with new forms of funding and delivery in healthcare and social welfare services, healthcare issues had not escaped scrutiny from the EU internal market and from competition and procurement rules.
Source: Johan van de Gronden, Erika Szyszczak, Ulla Neergaard, and Markus Krajewski, Health Care and EU Law, TMC Asser Press
Links: Summary
Date: 2011-Dec
An article examined the ways in which the position of patients had been reinforced under the 2011 Directive on cross-border healthcare.
Source: Frans Pennings, 'The cross-border health care Directive: more free movement for citizens and more coherent EU law?', European Journal of Social Security, 2011 Volume 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Dec
A report examined the provision of long-term mental healthcare in Europe for people with severe mental disorders. Although there had been improvements in services in recent years, there were still major challenges.
Source: Jose Miguel Caldas de Almeida and Helen Killaspy, Long-Term Mental Health Care for People with Severe Mental Disorders, European Commission
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Dec
A report examined the strategies adopted in European Union countries to improve the health of patients through better co-ordination between different levels of healthcare.
Source: Better Health: A Shared Challenge for Hospitals and Primary Health Care, European Hospital and Healthcare Federation
Date: 2011-Dec
A series of annual reports summarized policy developments in European countries in the fields of pensions, healthcare, and long-term care. The United Kingdom report said that the existing structure of the pension system led to undersaving by a substantial proportion of the population; described the coalition government's plans for National Health Service reform as a 'big gamble' in the face of opposition from core stakeholders; and said that the social care system was in 'urgent need of reform'.
Source: Martin Seeleib-Kaiser, Pensions, Health Care and Long-term Care: United Kingdom Annual Report 2011, Analytic Support on the Socio-Economic Impact of Social Protection Reforms – Expert Network (European Commission)
Links: UK report | 2011 reports (links)
Date: 2011-Dec
A report highlighted the relevance of mental well-being to achieving the objectives set by the Europe 2020 strategy. It presented the first outcomes of the European pact for mental health and well-being (bringing together European institutions, member states, and stakeholders from relevant sectors and the research community to support and promote mental health and well-being).
Source: Mental Well-Being: For a Smart, Inclusive and Sustainable Europe, European Commission
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Dec
An article said that lower-educated individuals in European countries not only had shorter life expectancies but also faced greater uncertainty about the age at which they would die. More priority should be given to efforts to reduce the risk of an early death among lower-educated groups, for example by strengthening protective policies within and outside the healthcare system.
Source: Alyson van Raalte, Anton Kunst, Patrick Deboosere, Mall Leinsalu, Olle Lundberg, Pekka Martikainen, Bjorn Heine Strand, Barbara Artnik, Bogdan Wojtyniak, and Johan Mackenbach, 'More variation in lifespan in lower educated groups: evidence from 10 European countries', International Journal of Epidemiology, Volume 40 Number 6
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Dec
A new book examined the healthcare experiences of the most developed countries in Asia (Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Singapore) and compared these with four of the most important healthcare systems in Europe (United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy). It looked at the increasing need for reforms in healthcare and health insurance administration, delivery systems, financing, and overall healthcare policy strategies – particularly in fast-aging societies in Asia, and highly aged societies in Europe.
Source: Christian Aspalter, Yasuo Uchida, and Robin Gauld (eds.), Health Care Systems in Europe and Asia, Routledge
Links: Summary
Date: 2011-Dec
An article set out an operational framework for assessing the completeness and consistency of the stewardship function of national health ministries in Europe.
Source: Jeremy Henri Maurice Veillard, Adalsteinn Davidson Brown, Enis Baris, Govin Permanand, and Niek Sebastian Klazinga, 'Health system stewardship of national health ministries in the WHO European region: concepts, functions and assessment framework', Health Policy, Volume 103 Issue 2-3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Dec
An article examined the effect of education on self-assessed health across European countries, taking into account potential confounders such as age, gender, and family social background. It considered whether countries differed in their average self-assessed health score. It tested a hypothesis concerning the existence of a European social gradient – that education exerted a relatively constant effect on self-assessed health.
Source: Sara Della Bella, Simone Sarti, Mario Lucchini, and Mara Tognetti Bordogna, 'A comparative analysis of inequality in health across Europe', Sociological Research Online, Volume 16 Issue 4
Links: Article
Date: 2011-Dec
An article compared the effect of income on self-reported poor health across European countries. There was significant income-related variation in self-reported poor health between different countries even if the levels of income or the standards of living were comparable. For women, income affected self-reported poor health differently from men. The effect of income on self-reported poor health depended on the age of the individual respondent.
Source: Carina Furnee, Wim Groot, and Gerard Pfann, 'Health and income: a meta-analysis to explore cross-country, gender and age differences', European Journal of Public Health, Volume 21 Number 6
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Dec
A report said that mental illness was a growing problem in advanced (OECD) countries and was increasingly affecting productivity and well-being in the workplace. 1 in 5 workers suffered from a mental illness, such as depression or anxiety. 3 in 4 workers with a mental disorder reported reduced productivity at work, compared with 1 in 4 workers without a mental disorder. Work absences were also much more frequent for workers with mental illness, and 30-50 per cent of all new disability benefit claims in OECD countries were attributed to mental ill-health.
Source: Sick on the Job? Myths and realities about mental health and work, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Links: Summary | OECD press release
Date: 2011-Dec
A report examined the economic benefits to European countries (in both the short and longer term) of investing in mental health promotion, mental disorder prevention, and early intervention.
Source: David McDaid, Making the Long-Term Economic Case for Investing in Mental Health to Contribute to Sustainability, European Commission
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Dec
A report examined major developments in the governance of public hospitals in Europe, and their implications for national and European health policy.
Source: Richard Saltman, Antonio Duran, and Hans Dubois (eds.), Governing Public Hospitals. Reform strategies and the movement towards institutional autonomy, World Health Organisation (Regional Office for Europe)
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Dec
An article examined inequalities in health expectancies at older ages in Europe. Substantial inequalities between countries were evident on all health expectancies. However, these differed across the disablement process, which could indicate environmental, technological, healthcare, or other factors that might delay progression from disease to disability.
Source: Carol Jagger, Claire Weston, Emmanuelle Cambois, Herman Van Oyen, Wilma Nusselder, Gabriele Doblhammer, Jitka Rychtarikova, and Jean-Marie Robine, 'Inequalities in health expectancies at older ages in the European Union: findings from the Survey of Health and Retirement in Europe (SHARE)', Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, Volume 65 Number 11
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Nov
An article examined socio-economic differences in life expectancy and health expectancy around retirement age in west European countries. People who were more highly educated lived longer in good health before retirement and could expect to live longer afterwards.
Source: Istvan Majer, Wilma Nusselder, Johan Mackenbach, and Anton Kunst, 'Socioeconomic inequalities in life and health expectancies around official retirement age in 10 western-European countries', Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, Volume 65 Number 11
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Nov
An article examined the contribution of various material, occupational, and psycho-social factors to social inequalities in health in Europe. Significant social differences were observed for self-reported health. Strong social gradients were found for almost all potential mediating factors, and almost all displayed significant associations with self-reported health.
Source: Benedicte Aldabe, Robert Anderson, Maija Lyly-Yrjanainen, Agnes Parent-Thirion, Greet Vermeylen, Cecily Kelleher, and Isabelle Niedhammer, 'Contribution of material, occupational, and psychosocial factors in the explanation of social inequalities in health in 28 countries in Europe', Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, Volume 65 Number 12
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Nov
A report provided the latest comparable data on different aspects of the performance of health systems in developed (OECD) countries. For the first time in 2009, the share of national income allocated to health in the United Kingdom exceeded the OECD average. The report warned the coalition government to consider carefully the costs and disruptive effects of large-scale reform to the National Health Service.
Source: Health at a Glance 2011: OECD Indicators, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Links: Report | UK note | OECD press release | DH press release | Patients Association press release | RCN press release | Guardian report
Date: 2011-Nov
A paper sought to identify patterns of utilization of formal and informal long-term care (LTC) across European countries, and discussed possible determinants of demand for different types of care. There were substantial differences in obtaining LTC. In the Nordic-type countries with high state responsibility and high provision of institutional care, informal care was of less importance and – if received – was mostly care provided on an irregular basis from outside the family. Countries of continental Europe were less unified, with a high share of people using formal settings of care, but also combining formal and informal care. In Mediterranean countries provision of informal care, including personal care, played a much greater role than formal LTC.
Source: Agnieszka Sowa and Izabela Styczynska, Determinants of Obtaining Formal and Informal LTC across European Countries, Working Paper 431/2011, Center for Social and Economic Research (Warsaw)
Links: Paper
Date: 2011-Nov
An article examined the impact of living arrangements and deinstitutionalization in the health status of people with intellectual disability in Europe. Extensive national health surveys and epidemiological studies were urgently needed in order to reduce increased morbidity rates among the population concerned.
Source: Rafael Mart nez-Leal et al., 'The impact of living arrangements and deinstitutionalisation in the health status of persons with intellectual disability in Europe', Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, Volume 55 Issue 9
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Nov
An article examined the role and agency of care-giving children, based on empirical findings in the United Kingdom and Germany.
Source: Anne Wihstutz, 'Working vulnerability: agency of caring children and children s rights', Childhood, Volume 18 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Nov
A new book examined migration and health in the European Union. It considered the rights of migrants to health; problems in their access to health services; and the challenges and opportunities in monitoring migrant health. It discussed the policy response to date and the need for culturally responsive health services.
Source: Bernd Rechel, Philipa Mladovsky, Walter Deville, Barbara Rijks, Roumyana Petrova-Benedict, and Martin McKee (eds.), Migration and Health in the European Union, Open University Press
Links: Summary
Date: 2011-Nov
A paper examined whether employees who worked more hours than they wanted to suffered adverse health consequences, based on data for Germany and the United Kingdom. Work-hour 'mismatches' had negative effects on workers' health. In particular, 'overemployment' – working more hours than desired – had negative effects on different measures of self-perceived health.
Source: David Bell, Steffen Otterbach, and Alfonso Sousa-Poza, Work Hours Constraints and Health, Discussion Paper 6126, Institute for the Study of Labor (Bonn)
Links: Paper
Date: 2011-Nov
An article examined whether father's occupational position, education, and height could be used to predict mortality, using British and French data. The association between early life socio-economic circumstances and mortality depended on the socio-economic indicator used and the cause of death examined. Height was not a straightforward measure of early life socio-economic circumstances, as taller people did not have a health advantage for all mortality outcomes.
Source: Silvia Stringhini, Aline Dugravot, Mika Kivimaki, Martin Shipley, Marie Zins, Marcel Goldberg, Jane Ferrie, and Archana Singh-Manoux, 'Do different measures of early life socioeconomic circumstances predict adult mortality? Evidence from the British Whitehall II and French GAZEL studies', Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, Volume 65 Number 12
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Nov
A report examined the impact of long-term care on informal carers' status in the labour market in Europe. The heaviest burdens – characterized by higher informal care intensity and co-habitation with the assisted person – hampered the carer from participating in the labour market as desired.
Source: Stefania Gabriele, Paola Tanda, and Fabrizio Tediosi, The Impact of Long-Term Care on Caregivers Participation in the Labour Market, Research Report 98, European Network of Economic Policy Research Institutes
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Nov
A new book examined developments in the content and forms of care in European societies, focusing on gender issues.
Source: Hanne Marlene Dahl, Marja Keranen, and Anne Kovalainen (eds.), Europeanization, Care and Gender: Global complexities, Palgrave Macmillan
Links: Summary
Date: 2011-Nov
A report examined the determinants of informal care-giving in European countries, as well as the trade-off between formal and informal care. The type of care provided was found to be related not to country-specific characteristics, but rather to the needs of the dependent person. Policies in the European Union should therefore keep pace with health and demographic patterns and trends. Country-specific policies were recommended in those cases where the demographic and health characteristics of the older population departed significantly from the average.
Source: Sergi Jimenez-Martin, Raquel Vegas Sanchez, and Cristina Vilaplana Prieto, The Relationship Between Formal and Informal Care in Europe and Its Implications for the Number of Caregiving Hours, Research Report 100, European Network of Economic Policy Research Institutes
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Nov
A report examined the effects of problems of labour force participation, and of unmet needs for formal care, on informal care-giving in Europe. It was necessary to promote favourable conditions for working carers, and shortfalls in long-term care might partially override the success of work-related policies.
Source: Cristina Vilaplana Prieto, Informal Care, Labour Force Participation and Unmet Needs for Formal Care in the EU-27, Croatia and Turkey, Research Report 97, European Network of Economic Policy Research Institutes
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Nov
A report examined the scale and characteristics of health professional mobility in the European Union, and the resulting impacts on health system performance.
Source: Matthias Wismar, Claudia Maier, Irene Glinos, Gilles Dussault, and Josep Figueras (eds.), Health Professional Mobility and Health Systems: Evidence from 17 European countries, World Health Organisation (Regional Office for Europe)
Date: 2011-Oct
A paper examined the impact of age on work-related self-reported health outcomes in Europe. Those aged 55-65 were more 'vulnerable' than younger workers. They were more likely to: perceive work-related health and safety risks; report mental, physical, and fatigue health problems; and report work-related absence.
Source: Melanie Jones, Paul Latreille, Peter Sloane, and Anita Staneva, Work-Related Health in Europe: Are older workers more at risk?, Discussion Paper 6044, Institute for the Study of Labor (Bonn)
Links: Paper
Date: 2011-Oct
A report examined access to healthcare for irregular migrants in the European Union. Irregular migrants often faced increased risk to their health from poor living and working conditions. At the same time their access to healthcare was limited due to legal, economic, and practical obstacles. Excluding irregular migrants from healthcare endangered their lives and well-being, increased the cost of future emergency treatment, and posed a health risk to the wider community.
Source: Migrants in an Irregular Situation: Access to healthcare in 10 European Union member states, Fundamental Rights Agency (European Commission)
Links: Report | FRA press release
Date: 2011-Oct
A new book examined the different approaches taken by European countries to the financing of long-term care systems.
Source: Joan Costa-Font and Christophe Courbage (eds.), Financing Long-Term Care in Europe: Institutions, markets and models, Palgrave Macmillan
Links: Summary
Date: 2011-Oct
A paper said that attempts by western governments to contain healthcare spending would fail without a 'significant transformation' of the ideological context that had favoured the birth and development of existing healthcare systems. In particular, the 'myth of social justice' and the concept of human dignity needed to be 'reassessed'.
Source: Enrico Colombatto, Is There a Health-Care Problem in Western Societies?, Working Paper 14/2011, International Centre for Economic Research (Prague/Piedmont)
Links: Paper
Date: 2011-Oct
A study examined the views and experiences of children and young people in Europe in relation to healthcare services.
Source: Ursula Kilkelly, Child-Friendly Health Care: The views and experiences of children and young people in Council of Europe member states, Council of Europe
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Oct
A report examined the rights of people with mental health problems in European Union member states. Rights were protected by existing non-discrimination laws, and by the duty to provide 'reasonable accommodation' at work. However, in areas such as access to housing or goods and services, the protection of the rights of people with mental health problems varied considerably across member states and could be strengthened.
Source: The Legal Protection of Persons with Mental Health Problems Under Non-Discrimination Law: Understanding disability as defined by law and the duty to provide reasonable accommodation in European Union member states, Fundamental Rights Agency (European Commission)
Links: Report | FRA press release
Date: 2011-Oct
An article examined public health research systems in European Union countries. Better understanding of research structures, programmes, and results would improve recognition for public health in Europe, and contribute to good practice. EU ministries of health should give greater attention to national public health research strategies and programmes, and the EU and the World Health Organization could provide co-ordination and support.
Source: Claudia Conceicao and Mark McCarthy, ' Public health research systems in the European Union', Health Research Policy and Systems, Volume 9
Date: 2011-Oct
A report examined the health of people of working age in Europe. It said that there was 'considerable scope' to reduce premature death, illness, and disability in people of working age through policies directed at key risk factors; and it made a series of recommendations.
Source: Wija Oortwijn, Emmy Nelissen, Sandra Adamini Swenneke van den Heuvel, Goedele Geuskens, and Lex Burdorf, Health of People of Working Age, European Commission
Date: 2011-Sep
An action plan set out steps aimed at reducing the harmful use of alcohol in European countries over the period to 2020.
Source: European Action Plan to Reduce the Harmful Use of Alcohol 2012-2020, World Health Organisation (Regional Office for Europe)
Links: Action plan | WHO press release
Date: 2011-Sep
An article examined examples of competition, freedom of choice,, and personalized care in health and social services in England and Sweden. It considered the type of relationships emerging between users/consumers, market-driven providers, and various agencies of the state under a marketized welfare system.
Source: Marianna Fotaki, 'Towards developing new partnerships in public services: users as consumers, citizens and/or co-producers in health and social care in England and Sweden', Public Administration, Volume 89 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Sep
An article examined European Union healthcare policy from the point of view of human rights law. EU policy had promoted an individualist, rather than a communitarian, view of the right to healthcare.
Source: Danielle da Costa Leite Borges, 'Making sense of human rights in the context of European Union health-care policy: individualist and communitarian views', International Journal of Law in Context, Volume 7 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Sep
A study examined the latest thinking and innovative practices related to 'governance for health' in European countries – defined as the attempts by governments or other actors to steer communities, countries, or groups of countries in the pursuit of health as integral to well-being through both a 'whole-of-government' and a 'whole-of-society' approach.
Source: Ilona Kickbusch and David Gleicher, Governance for Health in the 21st Century, World Health Organisation (Regional Office for Europe)
Links: Report | WHO press release
Date: 2011-Sep
An expert panel proposed improved methods for measuring health inequalities in Europe.
Source: A Spinakis, G Anastasiou, V Panousis, K Spiliopoulos, S Palaiologou, and J Yfantopoulos, Expert Review and Proposals for Measurement of Health Inequalities in the European Union, European Commission
Date: 2011-Sep
An article examined the potential of the European Labour Force Survey as a complementary source for the measurement of health inequality.
Source: Stefano Mazzuco and Marc Suhrcke, 'Health inequalities in Europe: new insights from European Labour Force Surveys', Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, Volume 65 Number 9
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Sep
A report said that mental disorders had became Europe's largest health challenge. Each year 38.2 per cent of the European Union's population – or 164.8 million people – suffered from a mental disorder.
Source: Hans-Ulrich Wittchen et al., The Size and Burden of Mental Disorders and Other Disorders of the Brain in Europe 2010, European College of Neuropsychopharmacology
Links: Report | ECN press release | MHF press release | Platform 51 press release | Guardian report
Date: 2011-Sep
An article examined variations of quality of work, and the effects of quality of work on older workers' health, by reference to types of welfare regime in Europe. Active labour policies and reliable social protection measures were found to exert beneficial effects on the health and well-being of older workers.
Source: Nico Dragano, Johannes Siegrist, and Morten Wahrendorf, 'Welfare regimes, labour policies and unhealthy psychosocial working conditions: a comparative study with 9917 older employees from 12 European countries', Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, Volume 65 Number 9
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Sep
A report examined the social determinants of health, and health inequalities, in European countries. There were major health inequalities between and within countries. The average life expectancy differed between countries by 20 years for men and 12 years for women. Within countries, the levels of both health and life expectancy related to, and were graded by, social and economic position. But most health inequalities were avoidable by reasonable means, and reducing them was a matter of social justice.
Source: Michael Marmot et al., Interim Second Report on Social Determinants of Health and the Health Divide in the WHO European Region, World Health Organisation (Regional Office for Europe)
Links: Report | EPHA press release
Date: 2011-Sep
A report examined the supply of informal care provided by family and friends in European countries. Differences in informal care provision were affected not only by differences in socio-demographic factors but also by differences in long-term care systems between countries.
Source: Linda Pickard, The Supply of Informal Care in Europe, Research Report 94, European Network of Economic Policy Research Institutes
Date: 2011-Sep
A report provided a comprehensive overview of the state of men's health in European countries. There were marked differences between the health of men and women: but there were also large disparities in health outcomes between men in different countries, and among male populations within each country.
Source: Alan White, Bruno de Sousa, Richard de Visser, Richard Hogston, Svend Aage Madsen, Peter Makara, Noel Richardson, and Witold Zatonski, The State of Men s Health in Europe, European Commission
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Aug
An article examined whether decisions affecting healthcare policy during acute economic crises were fundamentally different from those normally observed over the longer period of cost-containment policy, based on a study of the United Kingdom and Italy. Although acute economic crises created 'windows of opportunity' for change, it was the interaction of system-specific deficits and the role of ideas and political factors that largely conditioned the content and timing of reforms.
Source: Lorraine Frisina Doetter and Ralf Gotze, 'Health care policy for better or for worse? Examining NHS reforms during times of economic crisis versus relative stability', Social Policy and Administration, Volume 45 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Aug
A paper described a typology of long-term care systems in European countries.
Source: Markus Kraus, Thomas Czypionka, Monika Riedel, Esther Mot, and Peter Willeme, How European Nations Care for Their Elderly: A new typology of long-term care systems, Policy Brief 7, European Network of Economic Policy Research Institutes
Links: Paper
Date: 2011-Aug
A paper examined the causal effect of changes in health on economic development in European countries. A reduction in infant mortality or crude death rates was found to have a positive effect on growth in income per capita, and to increase population growth.
Source: Anthony Strittmatter and Uwe Sunde, Health and Economic Development: Evidence from the introduction of public health, Discussion Paper 5901, Institute for the Study of Labor (Bonn)
Links: Paper
Date: 2011-Aug
Researchers examined how 9 European countries (including the United Kingdom) had reformed their home care systems, in order to fund and deliver: high-quality care; efficient and effective provision; a stronger user-orientation; an optimal balance between formal and informal care; and the attraction and retention of home care workers.
Source: Tine Rostgaard, Caroline Glendinning, Cristiano Gori, Teppo Kroger, August Osterle, Marta Szebehely, Hildegard Theobald, Virpi Timonen, and Mia Vabo, LIVINDHOME: Living Independently at Home – Reforms in home care in 9 European countries, SFI – The Danish National Centre for Social Research
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Aug
A study of 12 European countries found that one additional year of education reduced self-reported poor health by 7.1 per cent for females and by 3.1 per cent for males.
Source: Giorgio Brunello, Margherita Fort, Nicole Schneeweis, and Rudolf Winter-Ebmer, The Causal Effect of Education on Health: What is the role of health behaviors?, Discussion Paper 5944, Institute for the Study of Labor (Bonn)
Links: Paper
Date: 2011-Aug
A new book examined different types and dimensions of child and elder care in Europe, highlighting new tensions between them in the context of recent welfare state reforms.
Source: Birgit Pfau-Effinger and Tine Rostgaard (eds.), Care Between Work and Welfare in European Societies, Palgrave Macmillan
Links: Summary
Date: 2011-Jul
An article examined the introduction of new long-term care schemes in Europe since the early 1990s. It highlighted the dominance of internal factors in the process – in particular the significant impact of the political and social actors on decisions about policy design and the adoption of foreign models.
Source: Hildegard Theobald and Kristine Kern, 'The introduction of long-term care policy schemes: policy development, policy transfer and policy change', Policy & Politics, Volume 39 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Jul
An article examined tobacco control policy across 15 European Union member states. Socio-economic modernization, economic interest groups, and domestic political factors all played a role in policy. Although there was a declining influence on the part of pro-tobacco domestic constituencies, the adoption of comprehensive tobacco control policies was still inhibited by corporatist practices in member states.
Source: Donley Studlar, Kyle Christensen, and Arnita Sitasari, 'Tobacco control in the EU-15: the role of member states and the European Union', Journal of European Public Policy, Volume 18 Issue 5
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Jul
A new book examined the relationship between health systems, health, and economic wealth in European countries.
Source: Martin McKee, Josep Figueras, and Richard Saltman, Health Systems: Health, Wealth, Society and Well-Being, Open University Press
Links: Summary
Date: 2011-Jul
A report examined the issue of women and occupational diseases in the European Union.
Source: Daniela Tieves, Women and Occupational Diseases in the European Union, European Trade Union Institute
Links: Summary
Date: 2011-Jul
A report said that at least 1 million healthy life years were lost every year from traffic-related noise in the western part of Europe.
Source: Frank Theakston (ed.), Burden of Disease from Environmental Noise: Quantification of healthy life years lost in Europe, World Health Organisation (Regional Office for Europe)
Date: 2011-Jul
A report said that inadequate housing accounted for over 100,000 deaths per year in Europe, and caused or contributed to many preventable diseases and injuries.
Source: Matthias Braubach, David Jacobs, and David Ormandy (eds.), Environmental Burden of Disease Associated with Inadequate Housing: A method guide to the quantification of health effects of selected housing risks in the WHO European Region, World Health Organisation (Regional Office for Europe)
Links: Report | WHO press release
Date: 2011-Jun
A paper said that 8 per cent of people in Europe (and 10 per cent of those who were middle-aged) took antidepressants each year. The probability of antidepressant use was greatest among those who were middle-aged, female, unemployed, poorly educated, and divorced or separated. The adjusted probability of using antidepressants reached a peak – approximately doubling – in people's late 40s: this was consistent with, and provided a new and independent form of corroboration of, recent claims in the research literature that human well-being followed a 'U-shape' through life.
Source: David Blanchflower and Andrew Oswald, Antidepressants and Age, Discussion Paper 5785, Institute for the Study of Labor (Bonn)
Links: Paper
Date: 2011-Jun
A paper said that there were 'vast gaps' in research on alcohol policies in Europe.
Source: Irmgard Eisenbach-Stangl, Comparing European Alcohol Policies: What to compare?, European Centre for Social Welfare Policy and Research (Vienna)
Links: Paper
Date: 2011-Jun
An article examined the link between education and health in European Union countries. Secondary education had a positive impact on health in most cases, and tertiary education in all cases. Better co-ordination was needed between education and health policies to improve health literacy.
Source: Cecilia Albert and Mar a Davia, 'Education is a key determinant of health in Europe: a comparative analysis of 11 countries', Health Promotion International, Volume 26 Issue 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Jun
A new book examined the social policies and professional practices that framed societal responses to the problems of child maltreatment in 10 developed countries (including England and 7 other European countries).
Source: Neil Gilbert, Nigel Parton, and Marit Skivenes, Child Protection Systems: International trends and orientations , Oxford University Press
Links: Summary
Date: 2011-Jun
A briefing paper reported a study that examined result-oriented quality indicators for residential care homes for older people in Europe.
Source: Frederique Hoffmann and Kai Leichsenring, Quality Management by Result-Oriented Indicators: Towards benchmarking in residential care for older people, European Centre for Social Welfare Policy and Research (Vienna)
Links: Paper
Date: 2011-Jun
An article examined the risk and protective factors affecting the onset of psychiatric disorders in the working population (in European countries), the onset of short-term sickness absence, and the transition from short- to long-term absence.
Source: Max Henderson, Samuel Harvey, Simon Overland, Arnstein Mykletun, and Matthew Hotopf, 'Work and common psychiatric disorders', Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, Volume 104 Issue 5
Links: Article
Date: 2011-May
An article said that women's employment was found to be negatively associated with informal caregiving to elderly people across the European Union.
Source: Andreas Kotsadam, 'Does informal eldercare impede women's employment? The case of European welfare states', Feminist Economics, Volume 17 Issue 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-May
A paper examined 'choice' policies in European public services, focusing on the case of choice in healthcare in the United Kingdom. The UK had a highly developed consumerist policy, and had served as a role model for other European countries implementing choice policies. There were positive effects of choice, particularly for middle-class individuals.
Source: Valentina Zigante, Assessing Welfare Effects of the European Choice Agenda: The case of health care in the United Kingdom, LEQS Paper 35, European Institute (London School of Economics)
Links: Paper
Date: 2011-May
A report said that spending on long-term care in developed countries was set to double, or even triple, by 2050, driven by ageing populations. Governments needed to make their long-term care policies more affordable and provide better support for family carers and professionals.
Source: Help Wanted? Providing and paying for long-term care, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Links: Report | OECD press release | UK summary
Date: 2011-May
An article examined the economic costs of socio-economic inequalities in health in the European Union. Inequality-related losses to health amounted to more than 700,000 deaths per year and 33 million prevalent cases of ill-health – with a monetary value estimated at €980 billion per year, or 9.4 per cent of aggregate national income.
Source: Johan Mackenbach, Willem Meerding, and Anton Kunst, 'Economic costs of health inequalities in the European Union', Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, Volume 65 Number 5
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-May
A paper examined long-term home care utilization in Europe. Age, disability, and proximity to death were important joint predictors of home care utilization. Increasing the number of hours of informal support did not lead to a reduction in formal care utilization.
Source: Silvia Balia and Rinaldo Brau, A Country for Old Men? An analysis of the determinants of long-term home care in Europe, Working Paper 2011/04, Centre for North South Economic Research (Cagliari)
Links: Paper
Date: 2011-May
An article examined the burden of cancer attributable to existing and former alcohol consumption in 8 European countries including the United Kingdom. An important proportion of cases of cancer could be attributable to alcohol consumption, especially consumption higher than the recommended upper limits.
Source: Madlen Schutze et al., 'Alcohol attributable burden of incidence of cancer in eight European countries based on results from prospective cohort study', British Medical Journal, 7 April 2011
Links: Article | Abstract | BBC report | Guardian report
Date: 2011-Apr
An article examined the 'interpretative repertoires' found in the suicide prevention strategies of England and Finland, and explored their potential functions and audiences.
Source: Pia Solin and Pirjo Nikander, 'Targeting suicide – qualitative analysis of suicide prevention strategy documents in England and Finland', Mental Health Review Journal, Volume 16 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Apr
A new book examined unpaid care work and paid employment, and the potential for developing a specific 'right to care' within European employment law. Many workers who sought to combine unpaid care with paid employment found themselves engaged in increasingly precarious forms of work: yet legal and policy responses had, to date, been reactive and incremental, resulting in a framework that was operationally ineffective.
Source: Nicole Busby, A Right to Care? Unpaid work in European employment law, Oxford University Press
Links: Summary
Date: 2011-Apr
An article examined trends in life expectancy in European countries since 1970. All western European countries had shown increases in life expectancy: but the countries of central and eastern Europe, Russia, and other parts of the former Soviet Union had had a very different, and altogether more negative, experience.
Source: David Leon, 'Trends in European life expectancy: a salutary view', International Journal of Epidemiology, Volume 40 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Apr
A report examined evidence on the impact of health and health behaviours on educational outcomes in European countries.
Source: Marc Suhrcke and Carmen de Paz Nieves, The Impact of Health and Health Behaviours on Educational Outcomes in High-Income Countries: A review of the evidence, World Health Organisation (Regional Office for Europe)
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Mar
An article examined evidence from three countries (United Kingdom, Germany, and Italy) where community-centred mental healthcare had replaced large-scale institutions – focusing on the economic consequences of deinstitutionalization.
Source: Martin Knapp, Jennifer Beecham, David McDaid, Tihana Matosevic, and Monique Smith, 'The economic consequences of deinstitutionalisation of mental health services: lessons from a systematic review of European experience', Health and Social Care in the Community, Volume 19 Issue 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Mar
A paper said that the European Union cross-border healthcare directive would further undermine social healthcare provision in the United Kingdom, in favour of 'economic' rights and the 'choice agenda'.
Source: Andy Morton, A Single European Market in Healthcare: The impact of European Union policy on national healthcare provision, European Services Strategy Unit
Links: Paper
Date: 2011-Mar
A paper examined the regulation of social security and healthcare in European Union law – and the issues of competition, free movement, and state aid that were involved.
Source: Daniele Gallo, Social Security and Health Services in EU Law: Towards convergence or divergence in competition state aids and free movement?, Working Paper 2011/19, Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies, European University Institute (Florence)
Links: Paper
Date: 2011-Mar
A report examined cross-border healthcare in the European Union, and the legal uncertainties surrounding rights, access, reimbursement, quality, and safety. It looked at different approaches to these concerns and the methodologies to use to ease or resolve them.
Source: Matthias Wismar, Willy Palm, Josep Figueras, Kelly Ernst, and Ewout van Ginneken (eds.), Cross-Border Health Care in the European Union: Mapping and analysing practices and policies, European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies
Date: 2011-Mar
A report examined possible scenarios for the future reform of healthcare systems in Europe.
Source: Alexandra Wyke, The Future of Healthcare in Europe, Economist Intelligence Unit
Date: 2011-Mar
A trade union report said that care services for older people in Europe were evolving in many countries, but care work was still an occupation that had a predominantly low-paid, female workforce. Personalization was also leading to the creation of new types of jobs that were often unregulated and unprotected: one of the major challenges for trade unions would be how to organize and negotiate terms and conditions for these new groups of home care workers or personal assistants.
Source: Jane Lethbridge, Care Services for Older People in Europe: Challenges for Labour, European Federation of Public Service Unions
Date: 2011-Mar
An article examined the 'destabilizing' effects of European Union law in relation to patient mobility. Health service organizations and governments in member states had opted for very limited compliance.
Source: Scott Greer and Simone Rauscher, 'Destabilization rights and restabilization politics: policy and political reactions to European Union healthcare services law', Journal of European Public Policy, Volume 18 Issue 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Mar
A report examined employment and industrial relations in the healthcare sector in Europe. Social partners at both European and national level had recognized that the attractiveness of the sector needed to be improved to ensure high-quality care and medical treatment in the future. This was linked not only to wages and terms and conditions, but also to the ability to continuously improve and enhance skills and to develop career opportunities.
Source: Tina Weber, Employment and Industrial Relations in the Health Care Sector, European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions
Date: 2011-Feb
An article examined whether there were differences in public opinion in European Union countries about policy options to fight the problem of childhood obesity. There was widespread support for providing parents with information, education programs in schools, and restrictions on advertising: but there was very little support for imposing taxes on unhealthy food.
Source: Suzanne Suggs and Chris McIntyre, 'European Union public opinion on policy measures to address childhood overweight and obesity', Journal of Public Health Policy, Volume 32 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Feb
A report said that the increase in smoking by women and girls in European countries was in large part due to skilful and successful marketing by the tobacco industry. The industry had taken a tailored approach to targeting women and girls in their campaigns: the tobacco control community needed to do the same.
Source: Empower Women: Combating tobacco industry marketing in the European region, World Health Organisation
Links: Report | WHO press release
Date: 2011-Feb
An article said that smoking accounted for 40-60 per cent of the difference in mortality between men and women in European countries.
Source: Gerry McCartney, Lamia Mahmood, Alastair Leyland, David Batty, and Kate Hunt, 'Contribution of smoking-related and alcohol-related deaths to the gender gap in mortality: evidence from 30 European countries', Tobacco Control, Volume 20 Number 2
Links: Abstract | European Commission press release
Date: 2011-Feb
The European Commission published an evaluation of the 2004 social partners agreement on work-related stress: it concluded that the agreement had had positive effects where it had been implemented.
Source: Report on the Implementation of the European Social Partners' Framework Agreement on Work-Related Stress, European Commission
Links: Report | European Commission press release
Date: 2011-Feb
An article examined possible links between economic insecurity and obesity, based on a comparison between 'market-liberal' countries (including the United Kingdom) and seven affluent European countries with strong social protection systems. Countries with market-liberal welfare regimes (which were also English-speaking) tended to have the highest prevalence of obesity.
Source: Avner Offer, Rachel Pechey, and Stanley Ulijaszek, 'Obesity under affluence varies by welfare regimes: the effect of fast food, insecurity, and inequality', Economics & Human Biology, Volume 8 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Jan
A paper examined the impact of rulings of the European Court of Justice (with regard to patient mobility) on European integration of national healthcare systems. The effects of these rulings went beyond the narrow issue of patient mobility, and could have an important impact on the domestic healthcare systems.
Source: Rita Baeten, Bart Vanhercke, and Michael Coucheir The Europeanisation of National Health Care Systems: Creative adaptation in the shadow of patient mobility case law, Research Paper 3, European Social Observatory (Brussels)
Links: Paper
Date: 2011-Jan
A new book examined reform agendas in Europe in relation to long-term care systems.
Source: Joan Costa-Font (ed.), Reforming Long-term Care in Europe, Wiley
Links: Summary
Date: 2011-Jan
A study examined access to, and uptake of, health services by European migrant workers in the United Kingdom; and their experiences and perceptions of local health services. It also considered migrant workers' uptake of, and attitudes towards, health promotion activities – both in their country of origin and in the UK.
Source: Alex Collis, Neil Stott, and Danielle Ross, Workers on the Move 3: European Migrant Workers and Health in the UK – The evidence, Keystone Development Trust
Date: 2011-Jan
An article proposed principles for reforming adult social care in England that drew on the experiences of other countries. Reforms in other countries were commonly driven by the desire to develop and/or maintain universal access to social care. Formerly fragmented, un-co-ordinated, and locally variable arrangements were being replaced with universal schemes, with national eligibility arrangements applicable to everyone regardless of age or ability to pay. Cash payments instead of services in kind were widely used. Policies for family carers were usually integral to overall long-term care arrangements. Even in federal systems such as Germany, Austria, and Spain, central governments played a crucial role in ensuring universal, equitable, and sustainable social care.
Source: Caroline Glendinning, 'Reforming adult social care: what can England learn from the experiences of other countries?', Quality in Ageing and Older Adults, Volume 11 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Jan
The European Parliament voted to adopt a Directive that sought to clarify the rights of patients to receive healthcare in another member state.
Source: Debate 19 January 2011, European Parliament
Links: Text | European Parliament press release | European Commission press release | European Patients Forum press release | Green Party press release | NHS Confederation press release
Date: 2011-Jan
