Health system ranked among least consumer-friendly in Europe

Ireland has been ranked second-last in a survey of the most consumer-friendly healthcare systems in Europe, it emerged today.

Only Lithuania’s health system was rated worse when it came to waiting times for treatment, patients’ rights and outcomes.

France was found to have the most consumer-friendly system followed by the Netherlands in the 2006 Euro Health Consumer Index.

President Johan Hjertqvist of Health Consumer Powerhouse (HCP), which drew up the league table, said: “From the consumer point of view, there is room for large improvements in every healthcare system.”

The healthcare systems in the 25 EU countries and Switzerland were compared from a consumer point of view.

On the Irish system, the report stated: “With severe waiting list problems and less-than-fantastic outcomes quality, Ireland does not score very well. The Health Service Executive reform can hopefully start changing this.”

Labour Party spokeswoman on health, Liz McManus, said some factors effecting the healthcare system such as lengthy waiting times to see specialists and overcrowding in hospitals’ A&E wards were very distressing for patients.

“It is pretty startling that we are second last only to Lithuania,” she said. “One of the richest countries in Europe and we are languishing towards the bottom.”

She added: “It shows up government has totally failed to live up to its determination.”

Ms McManus said for people to see health experts in certain specialities they may be left waiting months or years.

Ireland failed to make the top ten in the organisation’s survey of the value for money consumers get for the amount spent on healthcare.

“One of the things the survey is stressing is there is poor value for money,” Ms McManus said.

Points were awarded in five healthcare categories: Patients’ rights and information; Waiting times for treatment; Outcomes; Generosity of the healthcare system; and Pharmaceuticals.

Out of a maximum possible score of 750 points, France came out on top with 576, followed by the Netherlands at 572 and Germany at 571.

The UK scored 436 points, whilst Ireland scored 359, above the lowest-ranked Lithuania on 340.

The Stockholm-based organisation, which specialises in consumer information on healthcare systems and advising hospitals, said the results showed the position of European healthcare patients was still weak.

Around three-quarters of the national health systems make many patients wait more than three weeks for a cancer treatment.

Only a third of countries systems allow patients direct access to a specialist, as well as the opportunity to seek a second opinion.

It was found half of the healthcare systems do not make medical records available to patients.