Health system integration of the European Union

Abstract

All countries in Europe are striving to improve the performance of their health systems. Policy-makers are aiming at better returns from time, effort and monies invested in health systems. They are also seeking to eliminate or reduce the waste in health systems caused, for example, by over- and mal-treatment or the use of ineffective or overly expensive procedures and products. Needless to say, that in times of austerity many countries are confronted with growing health demands and dwindling public budgets, putting extra pressures on them to get more value for money.