The Euro Health Consumer Index 2006 points out to the most consumer-friendly health care system in the European union, as rated by 27 Index indicators. The 2006 Index includes all the 25 EU public healthcare systems plus Switzerland for reference. France emerges as the 2006 winner of the Euro Health Consumer Index, "with a technically efficient and generously providing healthcare system". France scores 576 out of 750 maximum points. 2005 years winner, the Netherlands, now takes the silver position, followed by Germany. Estonia and Slovakia gets the highest ranking in the category "value for money". Taking a strong consumer view, the 2006 Euro Health Consumer Index wants to add to already existing evaluations by institutions like WHO and OECD. Introducing a different perspective, our Index ranks how user-friendly the national healthcare turns out around the Union. Our Index is to be annually updated and developed, reflecting the expansion of the EU membership. Analysing the position of the consumer as shown by the 2006 Index, we find for example that: - Only four EU countries out of 25 offer some kind of provider catalogue (just one with a quality ranking). - Three out of four national systems cannot treat your cancer within three weeks. - In only one out of three you have direct access to a medical specialist. - The same goes for the right to a second opinion. - Every second country blocks the patient´s access to her own medical record. - Two out of three governments delays the introduction of new pharmaceuticals into the reimbursement system. To see the full results: EHCI 2006 grid To read the report: EHCI 2006 Report Transparency among the European health care systems is a key quality not only to consumers but to every health care stakeholder. Transparency reveals flaws and malfunctions requiring action. Every sophisticated service industry –and healthcare is very much an operation of that kind – is driven by informed consumer decisions and by the dialogue between the user and the provider. Europeans are of the opinion that their access to information improves the quality of care. To use the full potential of the health care systems, European trans-national information is an essential resource. In Sweden since three years we use a similar index to rank the healthcare delivered by the 21 county councils (SHCI). In Sweden the Index already is an influential policy tool. Moving ahead empowering the consumer during 2006 we will present indexes on breast cancer as well as diabetes care. Next year we will also present a Canadian Health Consumer Index to support Canadian consumers to take informed action. View the EHCI 2005