Launch of the EuroHealth Consumer Index

Around 100 guests visited the launch in Brussels of the EuroHealth Consumer Index 2005, including health experts, patient organisations and representatives from many of the countries in the index.

Johan Hjertqvist, president and founder of HCP, began with a vision of the near future. A Europe where half of the population has a chronic disease, vaccinations against nicotine are possible and millions of "snowbirds" in the Mediterranean won't have the same kind of healthcare system as today. Mr Hjertqvist predicted that this shift wouldn't come through a big reform, but through many small changes.

Dr. Arne Björnberg introduced the Index and illuminated the dramatic differences between the 12 healthcare systems. Waiting times for treatment were almost non-existent in countries as France, Belgium and Switzerland while they were a major problem in countries as Sweden and Great Britain.

One impressive feat was the reform speed of Estonia. In just 14 years the country has transformed from a Soviet commando system to a modern consumer-driven healthcare system.

After the summit, the Index was also thoroughly covered in most of the press in the countries included.