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

Tamara Rađenović; Vladimir Radivojević; Bojan Krstić; Tanja Stanišić; Snežana Živković

doi:10.35784/pe.2022.1.01

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Published: Jan 3, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.35784/pe.2022.1.01

DOI

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

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1632-7772

Vladimir Radivojević

tamara.radjenovic@znrfak.ni.ac.rs

Faculty of Economics, University of Priština in Kosovska Mitrovica

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3928-0623

Bojan Krstić

tamara.radjenovic@znrfak.ni.ac.rs

Faculty of Economics, University of Niš

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4597-6819

Tanja Stanišić

tamara.radjenovic@znrfak.ni.ac.rs

Faculty of Hotel Management and Tourism in Vrnjačka Banja, University of Kragujevac

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5809-794X

Snežana Živković

tamara.radjenovic@znrfak.ni.ac.rs

Faculty of Occupational Safety, University of Niš

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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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

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

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