The Rise in Preventive Care Expenditure in the EU: Highlights and Comparisons Across Countries

In the EU, a significant increase in preventive care expenditure accounted for 6.0% of total health expenditure in 2021, up from 2.9% and 3.5% recorded in 2019 and 2020, respectively. This growth can be attributed to the implementation of preventive care measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly with regards to immunization programs such as vaccination campaigns that began in 2021. The primary goal of preventive care is to prevent or reduce the occurrence of injuries, diseases, and their associated complications and consequences.

Among EU countries, Austria had the highest proportions of preventive care expenditure as a percentage of total health spending at 10.3%, followed by Denmark at 8.9% and the Netherlands at 8.7%. Conversely, Malta had the lowest shares at just 1.2%, while Slovakia and Poland had shares of 1.6% and 2.1%, respectively. These figures shed light on the varying levels of investment in preventive care across EU countries, reflecting different priorities and approaches to healthcare.

In terms of per capita expenditure on preventive care, Austria spent an impressive €566.4 per inhabitant, followed closely by Denmark at €555.1 and the Netherlands at €476.9