Health at a Glance: Europe 2022

The pandemic had a significant impact on young people’s physical and mental health, with depression symptoms increasing greatly and young people spending less time in physical activity.

©OECD

The pandemic disrupted care for non-COVID patients (primary care, mental health care, cancer care, chronic care and elective surgery), generating backlogs and increasing waiting times.

©OECD

The pandemic resulted in unprecedented reductions in life expectancy in many EU countries in 2020 and 2021. EU countries must also continue to prepare to face the “epidemic” of chronic diseases.

©OECD

Modifiable risk factors to health, such as smoking, alcohol consumption, unhealthy nutrition, lack of physical activity and obesity, contribute greatly to the burden of chronic diseases and premature mortality.

©OECD

Health spending increased significantly in most countries to address the consequences of the pandemic. Spending on health as a share of GDP went up to 10.9% in the EU in 2020, partly due also to GDP reduction.

©OECD

Delays in cancer screening during the pandemic have resulted in people being diagnosed at a more advanced stage. One of the positive consequences of the pandemic has been the increase in vaccination rate against seasonal flu among older people and other vulnerable groups.

©OECD

Most EU countries have universal health coverage, but the range of services covered and degree of cost-sharing vary. Effective access can be restricted by health workforce shortages, waiting times or geographic barriers.

©OECD

The response of health systems to the COVID-19 crisis offers insights into their resilience. Those responses included new methods of safely delivering care with a doubling of the share of teleconsultations, and the rapid delivery of vaccinations.

©OECD