In November 2024, the European Union saw a decrease in excess mortality rates, with 22,000 fewer deaths compared to the same month in 2023. Malta, Romania, and Slovakia even reported negative excess mortality rates. Despite this positive trend, the EU health system continues to face challenges.
Seven EU countries reported negative excess mortality rates, with Malta having the lowest at -16.1%. On the other hand, 20 EU countries experienced excess deaths, with Finland, Cyprus, and the Netherlands having the highest rates. Regions like Madrid, Nord, and Budapest were the most affected.
Health strikes due to chronic staff shortages and low pay were prominent in 2024. According to the OECD, 20 EU countries reported a shortage of doctors, while 15 reported a shortage of nurses. The Covid-19 pandemic also revealed weaknesses in the EU’s medicines markets, with 31 essential drugs experiencing shortages.
To address these issues, EU Health Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi has been tasked with presenting the Critical Medicines Act. However, the act has not yet been brought up in European Commission meetings scheduled until April 1. While Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed the initiative in July, no specific timeline has been provided.
The decrease in excess mortality rates is a positive development, but it is clear that challenges persist in the EU health system that will need to be addressed in the coming months.
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