Slovak Health Care Ten Places Higher in 2017 Health Consumer Index

Bratislava, January 30 (TASR) – Health Minister Tomas Drucker (a Smer-SD nominee) views Slovakia’s good position in the latest Euro Health Consumer Index (EHCI) as a good piece of news for both medical staff and patients.

Slovakia was placed 13th out of 35 European countries in the latest EHCI ranking, which evaluates health systems from the patient’s point of view.

“I’m glad that Slovak health care can be described, and not just by the data published by the EHCI for 2017, as standard within Europe and not at the bottom of the ranking,” he said.

Last year, Slovakia ended up 23rd, while in this year’s evaluation the country overtook all the other Visegrad Four countries (the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland) as well as Great Britain.

The ranking is drawn up based on an assessment of patients or patients’ organisations. Drucker noted that methods of communication with these organisations have definitely improved in Slovakia. The situation has also improved in terms of waiting times for CT scans or surgery. Conversely, flaws can still be found in prevention and the extent of health care.

The EHCI is an annual assessment of national European health-care systems that involved 35 countries in 2017. It’s been drawn up by Sweden’s Health Consumer Powerhouse since 2015. The Netherlands topped the ranking, followed by Switzerland and Denmark.