Comparative analysis of health policy development models in European Union countries
Abstract
The article provides a comparative analysis of health policy development models in European Union countries to identify successful practices for Ukraine in the context of European integration. The relevance of the study is substantiated by the need to adapt the Ukrainian healthcare system to EU standards while preserving national specificities.
The basic models of healthcare organization in the EU are systematized: the Bismarck model (social insurance), the Beveridge model (national health service), and mixed models. It is revealed that EU countries apply differentiated approaches to healthcare financing: Germany and the Netherlands use mandatory health insurance with participation of private insurance funds, Sweden and Denmark predominantly use tax financing through national health services, while France and Belgium employ mixed models combining insurance and budget financing.
Primary healthcare reforms are examined, covering the strengthening of family doctors’ role as service coordinators, implementation of mandatory patient registration systems, and development of multidisciplinary teams in primary care.
The digital transformation of healthcare systems is analyzed, revealing Estonia’s leadership with 99% digitalization of medical data, progress in Denmark and Lithuania in providing citizens’ online access to electronic medical records, and gradual implementation of electronic prescriptions and telemedicine in Poland and the Czech Republic.
It is established that new EU members with post-Soviet backgrounds (Poland, Estonia, Czech Republic) demonstrate different trajectories of healthcare system transformation, adapting Western European models to their own conditions. Common challenges for EU healthcare systems are identified, including demographic aging, rising healthcare costs, medical staff shortages, and territorial disparities in service accessibility.
The experience of integrating public and private sectors through mechanisms of contracting private service providers, public-private partnerships, and price regulation is generalized. Recommendations for Ukraine on adapting successful European practices considering the national context are proposed.
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