The health service in the Netherlands has topped the chart for the best care in Europe.
The 2014 Euro Health Consumer Index (ECHI) ranked 37 countries by considering such factors as accessibility and waiting times, outcomes, services available, illness prevention and disclosure of information.
The Netherlands achieved a score of 898 out of 1,000. Switzerland came second, followed by Norway, Finland and Denmark.
Portugal was number 13 with 722 points, just ahead of the UK (excluding Scotland) with 718 points leaving it in 14th place. Scotland’s separate health service has a higher per-capita spend but still was ranked two places below England.
Spain was ranked 19th and Italy 22nd.
Comments in the report about Portugal were brief but praising. The country “continues its very impressive climb” which is “all the more remarkable as Portugal is one of the countries most notably affected by the economic crisis”.
Portugal ranked in 25th place in 2012 and reached 16th place in 2013.
The Netherlands has been in the top three countries in each report since 2005.
The latest one said the Netherlands has addressed a weak spot – accessibility – by setting up 160 primary care centres which have open surgeries available 24/7. In addition, “politicians and bureaucrats seem farther removed from operative health care decisions in the Netherlands than in almost any other European country. This could in itself be a major reason behind the Netherlands' landslide victory".
