Most EU countries have achieved universal coverage for a core set of health services, although the range of services covered and the degree of cost-sharing vary, potentially raising affordability issues for some population groups. Effective access to different types of care can also be restricted due to health workforce shortages, long waiting times or long distance to reach the closest healthcare provider. While unmet medical care needs due to financial, waiting time or geographic barriers remained relatively low in most EU countries in 2023, they have increased since 2019. These unmet needs are over three times higher among people in the lowest income group compared to those in the highest income on average in the EU. The pandemic highlighted serious health workforce shortages in most EU countries. Achieving and sustaining universal access to care requires having a sufficient number and proper mix of health workers, with a proper geographic distribution, to respond to the needs of all the population regardless of where they live.
Health at a Glance: Europe 2024
State of Health in the EU Cycle
Health at a Glance: Europe
