German Health Insurance Contributions Projected to Rise Significantly
The IGES Institute forecasts a substantial rise in German health insurance contributions, reaching 18.5% by 2029 and potentially over 22% by 2035 due to rising healthcare costs and an aging population, prompting the DAK health insurance fund to threaten legal action if reforms aren't implemented.
German Health Insurance Contributions Projected to Rise Significantly
The IGES Institute forecasts a substantial rise in German health insurance contributions, reaching 18.5% by 2029 and potentially over 22% by 2035 due to rising healthcare costs and an aging population, prompting the DAK health insurance fund to threaten legal action if reforms aren't implemented.
Progress
52% Bias Score
Ukraine Reforms Disability Assessments, Replacing MSECs with Expert Teams
Ukraine replaced its Medico-Social Expert Commissions (MSECs) with 1,500 expert medical teams totaling 5,600 doctors to assess disability eligibility, starting January 1st, aiming to eliminate corruption and improve efficiency through an online system, though challenges with implementation and train...
Ukraine Reforms Disability Assessments, Replacing MSECs with Expert Teams
Ukraine replaced its Medico-Social Expert Commissions (MSECs) with 1,500 expert medical teams totaling 5,600 doctors to assess disability eligibility, starting January 1st, aiming to eliminate corruption and improve efficiency through an online system, though challenges with implementation and train...
Progress
44% Bias Score
Saxony-Anhalt's Coalition Divided Over Hospital Closures
Saxony-Anhalt's coalition government is divided over hospital restructuring, with the FDP proposing closures in Köthen, Merseburg, and Querfurt to address financial pressures, while the SPD opposes these closures, prioritizing accessible healthcare; a final decision is expected by October 2026.
Saxony-Anhalt's Coalition Divided Over Hospital Closures
Saxony-Anhalt's coalition government is divided over hospital restructuring, with the FDP proposing closures in Köthen, Merseburg, and Querfurt to address financial pressures, while the SPD opposes these closures, prioritizing accessible healthcare; a final decision is expected by October 2026.
Progress
52% Bias Score
Nesbitt: NI Healthcare Restructuring Only With Proven Patient Benefits
Northern Ireland's health minister, Mike Nesbitt, says he will only restructure healthcare if it improves patient outcomes, amid a crisis marked by long waits at emergency departments and increased deaths due to delays. This follows several recent high-level departures within the health service.
Nesbitt: NI Healthcare Restructuring Only With Proven Patient Benefits
Northern Ireland's health minister, Mike Nesbitt, says he will only restructure healthcare if it improves patient outcomes, amid a crisis marked by long waits at emergency departments and increased deaths due to delays. This follows several recent high-level departures within the health service.
Progress
48% Bias Score
Victoria Finalizes Health Service Network Restructure
The Victorian government announced its final health service network restructure on Friday, creating 12 networks serving at least 200,000 people each, following months of consultation and community feedback that led to changes such as splitting the Hume region into two sub-regions and merging Gippsla...
Victoria Finalizes Health Service Network Restructure
The Victorian government announced its final health service network restructure on Friday, creating 12 networks serving at least 200,000 people each, following months of consultation and community feedback that led to changes such as splitting the Hume region into two sub-regions and merging Gippsla...
Progress
44% Bias Score
Shanghai Opens Healthcare Market to Foreign Hospitals
Shanghai launched a pilot program on Wednesday to attract foreign-owned hospitals, expanding market access within designated zones including the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone and Lingang Special Area. The policy aims to improve healthcare services and address the growing demand fueled by Ch...
Shanghai Opens Healthcare Market to Foreign Hospitals
Shanghai launched a pilot program on Wednesday to attract foreign-owned hospitals, expanding market access within designated zones including the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone and Lingang Special Area. The policy aims to improve healthcare services and address the growing demand fueled by Ch...
Progress
40% Bias Score
Athens ER Wait Times: 6.5-Hour Wait Highlights Systemic Issues
A 69-year-old woman waited 6.5 hours in Gennimatas Hospital ER in Athens for treatment of acute abdominal pain in early December; this reflects a broader issue of long ER wait times in Athens (over 1.285 million visits in 2023) due to staffing shortages, poor ER organization, and primary care defici...
Athens ER Wait Times: 6.5-Hour Wait Highlights Systemic Issues
A 69-year-old woman waited 6.5 hours in Gennimatas Hospital ER in Athens for treatment of acute abdominal pain in early December; this reflects a broader issue of long ER wait times in Athens (over 1.285 million visits in 2023) due to staffing shortages, poor ER organization, and primary care defici...
Progress
44% Bias Score
Bayrou's Speech Highlights Persistent Healthcare Access Issues in France
French Prime Minister François Bayrou's January 14th policy speech addressed healthcare, announcing minor improvements like increased funding but neglecting crucial access-to-care issues, echoing decades-old concerns about systemic problems.
Bayrou's Speech Highlights Persistent Healthcare Access Issues in France
French Prime Minister François Bayrou's January 14th policy speech addressed healthcare, announcing minor improvements like increased funding but neglecting crucial access-to-care issues, echoing decades-old concerns about systemic problems.
Progress
56% Bias Score
Fragmented Healthcare System in Italy: Inequity and Inefficiency
The decentralized Italian healthcare system, established in 2001, faces challenges due to regional fragmentation, leading to communication problems, duplicated tests, and inequitable access to care, with the most vulnerable populations being disproportionately affected.
Fragmented Healthcare System in Italy: Inequity and Inefficiency
The decentralized Italian healthcare system, established in 2001, faces challenges due to regional fragmentation, leading to communication problems, duplicated tests, and inequitable access to care, with the most vulnerable populations being disproportionately affected.
Progress
52% Bias Score
Turkish Newborn Scandal Exposes Systemic Healthcare Failures
A parliamentary commission investigates a scandal involving newborn deaths and private healthcare facilities in Turkey; the Social Security Institution (SGK) faces 189 lawsuits against Şafak Hospitals, highlighting systemic issues revealed through a 44.5 million TL fine for irregularities, including...
Turkish Newborn Scandal Exposes Systemic Healthcare Failures
A parliamentary commission investigates a scandal involving newborn deaths and private healthcare facilities in Turkey; the Social Security Institution (SGK) faces 189 lawsuits against Şafak Hospitals, highlighting systemic issues revealed through a 44.5 million TL fine for irregularities, including...
Progress
48% Bias Score
NHS failings allowed Letby's killing spree to continue
Former Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt admitted today that the absence of a medical examiner at the Countess of Chester Hospital between June 2015 and June 2016, when nurse Lucy Letby murdered seven babies and attempted to kill seven more, likely contributed to the delayed detection of her crimes.
NHS failings allowed Letby's killing spree to continue
Former Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt admitted today that the absence of a medical examiner at the Countess of Chester Hospital between June 2015 and June 2016, when nurse Lucy Letby murdered seven babies and attempted to kill seven more, likely contributed to the delayed detection of her crimes.
Progress
40% Bias Score
Record ACA Enrollment Faces Uncertain Future as Subsidies Near Expiration
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has seen a dramatic increase in enrollment under President Biden, reaching nearly 24 million for 2025, due to expanded subsidies and outreach; however, the future of this coverage is uncertain as these subsidies are set to expire in 2025, potentially causing 4 million p...
Record ACA Enrollment Faces Uncertain Future as Subsidies Near Expiration
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has seen a dramatic increase in enrollment under President Biden, reaching nearly 24 million for 2025, due to expanded subsidies and outreach; however, the future of this coverage is uncertain as these subsidies are set to expire in 2025, potentially causing 4 million p...
Progress
52% Bias Score