Health

Europe leads progress toward value-based healthcare (VBHC)

October 09, 2016

Global

For immediate release

Europe leads progress toward value-based healthcare (VBHC)

 

  • New EIU research establishes a common framework for assessing and tracking progress toward value-based healthcare (VBHC) in 25 countries worldwide, including nine countries in Europe
  • Sweden and the UK were the only countries in the global study with very high and high levels of alignment with VBHC, respectively
  • The programme includes a foundational 25-country study in which VBHC alignment is explored via a data matrix, a comprehensive report, an executive summary and individual country snapshots

The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) recently unveiled research that includes a new framework for evaluating value-based healthcare (VBHC), an emerging model for health systems to consider the medical outcomes that matter to patients relative to their costs. The key findings for Europe include: Many of the nine countries included (France, Germany, Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey and the UK), were better aligned with VBHC compared to the other 16 countries studied around the world.  Only Russia, Turkey and Spain were rated low in their overall alignment with VBHC. Sweden and the UK were particularly strong in adopting integrated and patient-focused care.

The framework consists of 17 key indicators organised into four domains: Enabling context, policies and institutions for value in healthcare; measuring outcomes and costs; integrated and patient-focused care; and outcome-based payment approach. The framework, created in conjunction with a panel of independent healthcare experts, reveals most countries are in the early stages of aligning with VBHC.

The research programme, commissioned by Medtronic, a medical technology, services and solutions company, seeks to establish the core components of the enabling environment for VBHC globally in a unified framework that can be widely used by healthcare stakeholders. The framework for evaluating VBHC alignment was created in conjunction with a panel of seven independent expert advisors from geographies across the globe.

The programme includes the foundational 25-country study, in which VBHC alignment is explored via a data matrix of the indicator scores, a comprehensive findings and methodology report, an executive summary and individual country snapshots. The study is also complemented by policy papers and case studies focused on key issues that policymakers face when implementing VBHC—technology systems and human resources and payments.

“This study on alignment of country health systems with value-based healthcare provides a transparent framework for organisations interested in the building blocks of a value-based system. Our analysis shows that countries in the EU have broad health coverage and established health technology assessment agencies – setting high standards for the region. Sweden and the UK stand out in particular as the countries with highest alignment. In Sweden’s case, its strong data infrastructure and patient registries make information on patient treatment costs and outcomes widely accessible—helping foster an enabling environment for value-based healthcare,” says Annie Pannelay, Principal, EIU Healthcare.

Visit to access the full research.

 

Press enquiries:

Mathew Hanratty, corporate communications manager

+44 (0)20 7576 8546

 

Atefa Shah, project manager

+1 212 541 0574

 

About The Economist Intelligence Unit

The Economist Intelligence Unit is the world leader in global business intelligence. It is the business-to-business arm of The Economist Group, which publishes The Economist newspaper. The Economist Intelligence Unit helps executives make better decisions by providing timely, reliable and impartial analysis on worldwide market trends and business strategies. More information can be found at .

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