by Colin Kenny, GP, Dromore
The Health Powerhouse has been publishing a wide range of comparative publications on healthcare in various countries since 2004. The report outlines that there are 56.3 million people with diabetes in Europe, and this has a large economic burden on societies. It costs Europe €100–150 billion annually to manage and treat diabetes.
The Health Powerhouse presents the Euro Diabetes Index in an attempt to measure and rank the performance of healthcare provision from a consumer viewpoint. The index also recognises that the UK NHS has four nations, where data are collected differently.
The UK gains its fourth-placed ranking while not having a true national diabetes registry. Although it has a National Diabetes Audit for England and Wales, and a Scottish Diabetes Survey, Northern Ireland is yet to develop a national registry. The report observes that the UK still has obesity and dietary habit problems, and that there are variations in outcomes and services between the four constituent nations, and also between regions of England. This is compared with Sweden, the country with the best diabetes care delivery in Europe, which has strong healthcare structure to manage and treat diabetes.
To access the full publication, click here (free to access)
