The health system of the European region of the World Health Organization (WHO) has long been considered one of the best, but at the moment it is stagnating and lagging behind in a number of factors, according to a WHO press release.
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The WHO European Region includes 53 countries from Eastern and Western Europe, as well as Central Asia.
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“Despite progress in some areas, the WHO European Region, which has long had a reputation as one of the best health systems, is stagnating or even lagging behind in a number of indicators, from the health of children and adolescents to chronic diseases,” the organization’s report says.
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For example, the region has some of the lowest rates of preventable child mortality, but the difference between the countries with the best and worst rates is huge. According to the latest data from 53 countries in the WHO region, in 2022, almost 76,000 children died before reaching their fifth birthday. The main causes were complications of premature birth, birth asphyxia, congenital heart abnormalities, lower respiratory tract infections, neonatal sepsis and other infections.
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There are a number of additional health problems for children and adolescents in the European region. Thus, one in five teenagers suffers from mental disorders, girls constantly report a lower level of mental well-being compared to boys, and 15% of teenagers report that they have been subjected to cyberbullying. Suicide is the leading cause of death among people aged 15-29. Every tenth teenager aged 13-15 uses tobacco products in one form or another, including electronic cigarettes.
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It is noted that the region has achieved great success in the fight against non-communicable diseases, which account for the largest number of deaths. Nevertheless, one in six people still dies before the age of 70 from cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes or chronic respiratory diseases. Cardiovascular diseases account for a third of premature deaths from non-communicable diseases. Cancer also accounts for a third of premature deaths.
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WHO points out a number of problems related to non-communicable diseases. The European region ranks first in the world in alcohol consumption, with the highest rates recorded in the European Union and the lowest in Central Asia. The level of tobacco consumption among the adult population also remains high, and the region is not meeting the target of reducing smoking by 30% by 2025.
