Berlin (dpa) – Germans utilise health services more frequently than average compared to people from other EU countries. This is the result of a standardised population survey (European Health Interview Survey), which is mandatory for all EU member states, according to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI). The utilisation of all health services surveyed in Germany is above the average of the EU member states.
Differences between genders and age groups
According to the report, demographic and social differences were similar: According to the data, women and people in older age groups in particular utilised the services more frequently. Exceptions are inpatient services and colonoscopies, where there are no gender differences. According to the RKI, the only exception among the age groups is that psychiatric and psychotherapeutic services as well as non-prescription drugs are used more frequently by young adults.
In addition, according to the RKI, specialist medical and dental services are used more frequently in the high education group, while psychiatric and psychotherapeutic services as well as inpatient services and prescribed medicines are used more frequently in the low education group.
Certain diseases occur more frequently in Germany
The population survey also revealed that cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes occur more frequently than average in Germany, according to the RKI. Nevertheless, these sick Germans rated their health better on average than people on average in the EU countries.
The EU-wide population survey collected data on health status, healthcare, factors influencing health and the socio-economic situation of the populations in the EU member states. According to the RKI, this data can now be used to develop national strategies to tackle health policy challenges.
‘Health information available across Europe can support the search for good examples of measures and interventions in European countries,’ explained the RKI. For example, the observed education-related inequalities across Europe pointed to considerable potential for promoting health equity.
