Hungary Low Down On Euro Heart Index by Robin Marshall

The Heart Index compares care systems around Europe from a consumer point of view. In five categories, covering 28 performance indicators, Hungary scored 553 points out of a potential 1,000.Austria, Slovenia, the UK and Finland were all among a group ranked behind the leaders, each with a score of more than 700.

Generally, scores for the CEE region were not good. One exception, according to the report’s authors, is Poland (ranked 26), which, despite a modest overall score, shows a high level of cardiac healthcare activity, a low heart disease death rate (on par with Germany or Sweden) and good case fatality rates for heart infarct (heart attacks) treatment. 

Among Hungary’s near neighbors, Slovakia was ranked 20, Czech Republic 21, Bulgaria 28 and Romania was ranked last at 29.

“Hungarians have good access to cardiac care, but disappointing medical results – this has also been shown in previous comparisons for the Hungarian healthcare service,” Dr Arne Björnberg, research director for the Heart Index, told The Budapest Sun.

What more could be done in Hungary? Johan Hjertqvist, the president of analysis and information organization Health Consumer Powerhouse (HCP), which produced the study, explained: “A weak spot is a lack of transparency in the system. Accessible information for the consumer on where to find the best heart-care provider is lacking.

Communicate 

“Further, the specialists could communicate more effectively with their patients by sending copies of their letters to the patient as well. 

“Money would be used more wisely if invested in prevention, such as controlling blood pressure among the population and offering smoke cessation assistance. 

“Then resources would be freed up so that investments in better procedures could take place.” 

The Euro Consumer Heart Index provides a ranking of European cardiovascular healthcare systems across five key areas to the consumer: information; consumer rights and choice; access; prevention; procedures and outcomes.
The study is constructed from public statistics and independent research. 

HCP has been publishing the Swedish Health Consumer Index since 2004, and the heart index is based on methodology developed during the work it did on the first three editions of the general Euro Health Consumer Index (2005-7). 

The heart research was produced with the help of an unrestricted research grant from Pfizer Inc."
 
Source: Budapest Sun