The Efficiency of Health Systems in Response to the Covid-19 Pandemic: Evidence from the EU Countries

Tamara Rađenović

tamara.radjenovic@znrfak.ni.ac.rs
Faculty of Occupational Safety, University of Niš (Serbia)
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1632-7772

Vladimir Radivojević


Faculty of Economics, University of Priština in Kosovska Mitrovica (Serbia)
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3928-0623

Bojan Krstić


Faculty of Economics, University of Niš (Serbia)
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4597-6819

Tanja Stanišić


Faculty of Hotel Management and Tourism in Vrnjačka Banja, University of Kragujevac (Serbia)
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5809-794X

Snežana Živković


Faculty of Occupational Safety, University of Niš (Serbia)
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7931-9334

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the insufficient capacities and capabilities of countries around the world to deal with global infectious diseases and stressed the need to improve the international health security framework. An efficient and comprehensive health system that is able to cope with public health emergencies is an essential prerequisite for strengthening health security. The paper analyzes the efficiency of health systems in the European Union (EU) countries and their responsiveness to the COVID-19 pandemic. The research covers 27 EU countries and it is based on the secondary data contained in the 2019 Global Health Security Index Report. The aim of the paper is to identify key determinants for improving the efficiency of health systems in the EU, as well as to examine the interdependence between health expenditures and the efficiency of health system in this sample of countries. The research is conducted through descriptive statistics and correlation and regression analysis. The conclusions can be useful for the EU policy makers in formulating a strategy to improve the efficiency of Member States’ health systems and preparedness for possible new pandemics.


Keywords:

efficiency, health system, health security, health expenditures, EU countries, COVID-19

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Published
2022-01-03

Cited by

Rađenović, T., Radivojević, V., Krstić, B., Stanišić, T., & Živković, S. (2022). The Efficiency of Health Systems in Response to the Covid-19 Pandemic: Evidence from the EU Countries. Problemy Ekorozwoju, 17(1), 7–15. https://doi.org/10.35784/pe.2022.1.01

Authors

Tamara Rađenović 
tamara.radjenovic@znrfak.ni.ac.rs
Faculty of Occupational Safety, University of Niš Serbia
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1632-7772

Authors

Vladimir Radivojević 

Faculty of Economics, University of Priština in Kosovska Mitrovica Serbia
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3928-0623

Authors

Bojan Krstić 

Faculty of Economics, University of Niš Serbia
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4597-6819

Authors

Tanja Stanišić 

Faculty of Hotel Management and Tourism in Vrnjačka Banja, University of Kragujevac Serbia
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5809-794X

Authors

Snežana Živković 

Faculty of Occupational Safety, University of Niš Serbia
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7931-9334

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