Recently published Eurostat data report widespread increase in the availability of imaging equipment in hospitals over several decades. The number of CT scans relative to population size increased across the EU, for example. In the Czech Republic, availability of operating theatres in hospitals relative to population size decreased, the data say.

OECD recently published their Health Care at a Glance Europe 2016 report. Around 17.7% of the Czech population was aged over 65 in 2015, while fertility rate reached 1.53 children. The report mentions marked increase in child obesity, still Czech girls aged 15 are currently among most physically active. Also, differences in density of doctors between urban regions and rural regions are highest in Slovakia, Czech Republic, and Greece, the report says. 

Health Care Institute organizes the conference Effective Hospitals 2016 - Strategies of health insurance companies and hospitals. The event will be held on 29 and 30 Novermber 2016 in Clarion Congress Hotel in Prague.

Ensuring the sustainability of healthcare systems requires a strategic and comprehensive policy response. Current short-term cost containment measures that exclusively target the price of medicines risk undermining, rather than improving access. The American Chamber of Commerce to the European Union (AmCham EU) believes that focusing on meaningful patient outcomes and the value of innovative medicines is part of the solution. Europe also needs to further encourage research and development and innovation, of which the patent system remains a key driver. This will deliver new life-saving treatments to patients and spur economic growth and job creation in the EU.