VARIABILITY IN HEALTHCARE TREATMENT COSTS AMONGST NINE EU COUNTRIES - RESULTS FROM THE HEALTHBASKET PROJECT

摘要

Patient mobility gives rise to some fundamental information requirements, such as the nature of the basket of services offered in the different Member States, how these are denned, how often they are used for particular patients, what their costs are, what prices are paid for them, the quality with which they are delivered, and their cost-effectiveness. This knowledge will enable both Member States and the European Commission to formulate coherent policies on patient mobility in a way that will preserve both the financial viability of existing health systems and the treasured principles of universality, equity and accessibility. Further, if patients are to benefit from the opportunity offered by the European Union's emerging healthcare market, they too will need to know the nature, quality and costs of services available elsewhere. Finally, international comparison based on good quality data is an important tool for learning from best practice within and between countries.