ABSTRACT
This analysis of the Czech health system reviews recent developments in organization and governance, health financing, health-care provision, health reforms and health system performance. The Czech health-care system is based on compulsory statutory health insurance providing virtually universal coverage and a broad range of benefits, and doing so at 7.7 % of GDP in 2012 - well below the EU average - of which a comparatively high 85 % was publicly funded. Some important health indicators are better than the EU averages (such as mortality due to respiratory disease) or even among the best in the world (in terms of infant mortality, for example). On the other hand, mortality rates for diseases of the circulatory system and malignant neoplasms are well above the EU average, as are a range of health-care utilization rates, such as outpatient contacts and average length of stay in acute care hospitals. In short, there is substantial potential in the Czech Republic for efficiency gains and to improve health outcomes. Furthermore, the need for reform in order to financially sustain the system became evident again after the global financial crisis, but there is as yet no consensus about how to achieve this.
Subject(s)
Delivery of Health Care/organization & administration , Health Care Reform/organization & administration , Healthcare Financing , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Child , Child, Preschool , Czech Republic , Female , Government Programs/economics , Health Expenditures , Health Policy/economics , Health Resources , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Male , Medical Assistance , Middle Aged , Universal Health Insurance/economics , Young AdultABSTRACT
This analysis of the Czech health system reviews recent developments inorganization and governance, health financing, health-care provision,health reforms and health system performance. The Czech health-caresystem is based on compulsory statutory health insurance providing virtuallyuniversal coverage and a broad range of benefits, and doing so at 7.7% ofGDP in 2012 – well below the EU average – of which a comparatively high85% was publicly funded. Some important health indicators are better than theEU averages (such as mortality due to respiratory disease) or even among thebest in the world (in terms of infant mortality, for example). On the other hand,mortality rates for diseases of the circulatory system and malignant neoplasmsare well above the EU average, as are a range of health-care utilization rates,such as outpatient contacts and average length of stay in acute care hospitals. Inshort, there is substantial potential in the Czech Republic for efficiency gainsand to improve health outcomes. Furthermore, the need for reform in order tofinancially sustain the system became evident again after the global financialcrisis, but there is as yet no consensus about how to achieve this.