Covid-19, an electric shock to Europe’s health



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Shortage of staff, difficulty accessing care, is a painful reminder. Covid highlighted the fragility of health systems in many countries, the OECD annual report points out (1) dedicated to health.

Emphasize the importance of support the health sector even more actively and increase the scope of screening, tracing and isolation measures . More than 10 million Europeans have been infected and over 265,000 have died.

Tobacco, with 700,000 deaths each year, remains the leading killer in Europe. Alcoholism comes next with more than 255,000 deaths. The announcement of the creation of a health authority, intended to strengthen cooperation and anticipate crises, is part of the good news of this unique period, observes Stella Kyriakides, European Commissioner responsible for health.

The elderly and the poorest are the most affected

90% of these deaths were recorded in the over 60s. In several European countries, at least half of the people who succumbed to Covid-19 were in nursing homes , observe the OECD.

The poorest, often in poor health, most affected by obesity, have been hit hard. In the UK, the likelihood of dying from Covid is doubled in poor neighborhoods. In France, deaths increased by 48% in March and April compared to the same period last year among immigrants.

Why are some countries doing better?

Norway, Finland but also Korea, Japan, Australia and New Zealand have managed to control the epidemic. In some cases, such as in Norway or Finland, low population density may have played a role, at least in part.

But all of these countries were even better prepared, insists the OECD report. They were able to quickly implement an effective strategy for screening, patient monitoring and contact tracing. By comparison, their population also gives more credit to the decisions and recommendations of the authorities and complies more readily.

(1) The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development brings together thirty-seven of the most developed countries.

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