Health inequalities between EU Member States

31.10.2016

Question for written answer E-008271-16
to the Commission
Rule 130
Monica Macovei (ECR) , Patricija Šulin (PPE) , Elisabetta Gardini (PPE) , Tomáš Zdechovský (PPE) , Miroslav Poche (S&D)

Access to healthcare is a crucial component of the right to life. The right to the best attainable health means that societies are obliged to provide accessible, appropriate and effective services to all citizens. According to the 2014 EU survey, over half of European citizens consider that healthcare should be the EU’s main priority. A review of published studies indicates that there is an increase in health inequalities between social groups within countries, including some in the east of the EU (such as Hungary, Estonia, Lithuania and Poland), as well as in the Nordic countries. Nevertheless, it is notable that a key reason for the problem stems from the socioeconomic situation across the EU Member States, including factors such as income distribution and unemployment levels.

It is notable that the prices of pharmaceuticals themselves also vary across Member States. A recent review of the prices of 150 pharmaceutical products shows that a comparison of the average prices among 11 Member States found a 25% difference between the lowest and the highest Member States.

What sorts of measure does the Commission envisage implementing in order to reduce the health inequalities across the EU and to keep public health as a priority on the EU agenda?