Latest update of text: March 2026.

Health statistics introduced

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Latest update of text: March 2026.

Health is an important priority for Europeans, who expect to have a long and healthy life, to be protected against illnesses and accidents, and to receive appropriate health care. One of the 20 principles of the European pillar of social rights is that everyone has the right to timely access to affordable, preventive and curative health care of good quality.

Health issues cut across a range of topics – including consumer protection (food safety issues), workplace safety, environmental or social policies. As such, health policy within the European Union (EU) is principally under the remit of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety and the Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion.

The competence for the organisation and delivery of health services and medical care within the EU is primarily held by EU countries. The European Commission has a mandate to complement national actions on health and to work towards a stronger European Health Union.

EU policies and actions in public health aim to:

  • protect and improve the health of EU citizens
  • support the modernisation and digitalisation of health systems and infrastructures
  • improve the resilience of Europe’s health systems
  • equip EU countries to prevent and address future pandemics better.

The European Commission’s Directorate for Health and Food Safety supports the efforts of EU countries to protect and improve the health of their citizens and to ensure the accessibility, effectiveness and resilience of their health systems. This is done through various means, including by proposing legislation, providing financial support, coordinating and facilitating the exchange of best practices and health promotion activities.

The EU gathers a range of statistical information in order to assess health issues and to support the effective design of policies and future actions. An example is the European core health indicators (ECHI). This article starts by explaining several EU health-related policy issues and concludes by introducing the main statistical sources.


EU actions in the field of health

Political priorities 2024–29: public health measures

Public health measures can contribute to the European Commission’s strategic plan covering the period 2025–29, for example by strengthening prevention, resilience and competitiveness in the face of new and emerging health threats and challenges. Key public health priorities include:

Fourth multi-annual action programme – EU4Health

The Programme for Community action in the field of public health was the first EU action programme with a view to contributing to the achievement of a high level of health protection in Europe and covered the period from 2003 to 2008. The fourth multi-annual programme of EU action in the field of health is called EU4Health. Regulation (EU) 2021/522 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 March 2021 establishing a Programme for the Union’s action in the field of health (‘EU4health programme’) for the period 2021–2027 offers funding to EU countries, health organisations and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). It is designed, among other objectives, to boost the EU’s preparedness for major cross-border health threats by establishing:

  • reserves of medical supplies for crises
  • a reserve of healthcare staff and experts that can be mobilised to respond to crises across the EU
  • increased surveillance of health threats.

EU4Health has a budget of €4.4 billion for the period 2021–27 and is designed to support a longer-term vision of improving health outcomes via efficient and inclusive health systems across the EU countries. For this purpose, there are 10 specific objectives that are classified under the 4 general goals:

  • improve and foster health
    • health promotion and disease prevention
    • international health initiatives and cooperation
  • protect people
    • prevention, preparedness and response to cross-border health threats
    • complementing national stockpiling of essential crisis-relevant products
    • establishing a reserve of medical, healthcare and support staff
  • access to medicinal products, medical devices and crisis-relevant products
    • ensuring that these products are accessible, available and affordable
  • strengthen health systems
    • reinforcing health data, digital tools and services; the digital transformation of healthcare
    • enhancing access to healthcare
    • developing and implementing EU health legislation and evidence-based decision making
    • integrated work among national health systems.

Europe’s beating cancer plan

EU4Health will also invest in urgent health priorities, including Europe’s beating cancer plan. The plan is built around 10 flagship initiatives and several supporting actions, which are designed to support the work of EU countries in preventing cancer and ensuring a high quality of life for cancer patients, survivors, their families and carers. It aims to tackle the entire disease pathway of cancer and is structured around 4 key action areas where the EU can add the most value: i) prevention ii) early detection iii) diagnosis and treatment and iv) quality of life of cancer patients and survivors. Among others, EU4Health’s flagship initiatives include:

Healthier together

In December 2021, the European Commission launched the Healthier together – EU non-communicable diseases initiative. This complements Europe’s beating cancer plan, as cancer is also a non-communicable disease. The healthier together initiative aims to support EU countries to identify and implement effective policies and actions to reduce the burden of major non-communicable diseases and improve health and well-being. The initiative promotes a holistic and coordinated approach to prevention and care. It covers the 2022–27 period and includes 5 strands:

  • health determinants
  • cardiovascular diseases
  • diabetes
  • chronic respiratory diseases
  • mental health and neurological disorders.

EU cardiovascular health plan: the safe hearts plan

The safe hearts plan was published by the European Commission in December 2025. It is the first ever EU approach to tackling cardiovascular disease and is a part of the European Health Union. The plan supports EU countries and stakeholders on health promotion and prevention, early detection and screening, treatment and care (including rehabilitation) of cardiovascular diseases. It comprises 10 flagship initiatives including, among others, a lifelong, personalised and digitally enabled prevention programme; empowering consumers through information on food processing; modernising tobacco control legislation; a cardiovascular health inequalities dashboard; a cardiovascular disease research and innovation roadmap.

Mental health

Mental health is an integral part of health. It is a state of well-being in which individuals fulfil their own abilities and can cope with the stresses of life and contribute to community life. Mental health is a precondition for a productive economy and inclusive society and goes beyond individual or family matters. Mental health is conditioned by personal and external factors.

According to the EU’s Charter of Fundamental Rights, everyone has the right of access to preventive health care and the right to benefit from medical treatment under the conditions established by national laws and practices. In June 2023, the European Commission adopted a Communication on a comprehensive approach to mental health (COM(2023) 298 final). This communication seeks to launch a new strategic approach to mental health, cross-sectoral in nature, going beyond health policy. It focuses on how to bring relief to people suffering from mental health issues and on prevention policies. It draws on 3 guiding principles that should apply to every EU citizen:

  • have access to adequate and effective prevention
  • have access to high quality and affordable mental healthcare and treatment
  • be able to reintegrate into society.

Cross-border health

The European health insurance card (EHIC) allows travellers from any EU country to obtain medical treatment if they fall ill whilst temporarily visiting another EU country, European Free Trade Association (EFTA) country or the United Kingdom (under the same conditions and at the same cost – free in some countries – as people insured in that country). The EU has also introduced legislation on the application of patients’ rights in cross-border healthcare (Directive 2011/24/EU) which allows patients to go abroad for treatment when this is either necessary (specialist treatment is only available abroad) or easier (if the nearest hospital is just across a border).

As part of an initiative to build a stronger European Health Union, Regulation (EU) 2022/2371 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 November 2022 on serious cross-border threats to health aims to ensure that the EU will have:

  • a robust preparedness planning and a more integrated surveillance system
  • a better capacity for accurate risk assessment and targeted response
  • solid mechanisms for joint procurement of medical countermeasures
  • the possibility to adopt common measures for the EU as a whole to address future cross-border health threats.

European health data space

The European health data space (EHDS) is a cornerstone of the European Health Union and the first common EU data space dedicated to a specific sector as part of the European strategy for data.

The EHDS Regulation aims to establish a common framework for the use and exchange of electronic health data across the EU. It enhances individuals’ access to and control over their personal electronic health data, while also enabling certain data to be reused for public interest, policy support and scientific research purposes. It fosters a health-specific data environment that supports a single market for digital health services and products. Additionally, the regulation establishes a harmonised legal and technical framework for electronic health record systems, fostering interoperability, innovation and the smooth functioning of the internal market.

The EHDS aims to:

  • empower individuals to access, control and share their electronic health data across borders for the healthcare delivery (primary use of data)
  • enable the secure and trustworthy reuse of health data for research, innovation, policymaking and regulatory activities (secondary use of data)
  • foster a single market for electronic health record systems, supporting both primary and secondary use.

Complementary programmes, policies, instruments and actions

EU4Health is complemented by various other EU programmes, policies, instruments and actions.

Health and safety at work

Concerning health and safety at work, the Treaty on the functioning of the European Union states that ‘[...] the Union shall support and complement the activities of the Member States in the following fields: (a) improvement in particular of the working environment to protect workers' health and safety [...]’. The European Commission’s policy agenda for the period 2021–27 was set out in a Communication on the EU strategic framework on health and safety at work 2021–2027 – Occupational safety and health in a changing world of work (COM(2021) 323 final). This was adopted in June 2021 and has 3 main concerns:

  • anticipating and managing change in the world of work brought about by green, digital and demographic transitions
  • improving prevention of workplace accidents and illnesses
  • increasing preparedness for any potential future health crises.

Principle 10 of the European pillar of social rights underlines that ‘workers have the right to a high level of protection of their health and safety at work.’ Actions in the field of health and safety at work are supported under the working conditions priority of the EU’s programme for employment and social innovation (EaSI). EaSI is a financing instrument designed to promote a high level of quality and sustainable employment, guaranteeing adequate and decent social protection, combating social exclusion and poverty and improving working conditions. For the period 2021–27, the EaSI programme has become a strand under the ESF+; it has a budget of €762 million. Among its policy priorities, it seeks to support analytical activities and evidence-based policymaking in relation to working conditions, social protection and active inclusion.

In January 2017, the European Commission adopted the Communication on Safer and Healthier Work for All – Modernisation of the EU Occupational Safety and Health Legislation and Policy (COM(2017) 12 final). It proposed 3 key actions to bring new impetus to the existing framework:

  • stepping up the fight against occupational cancer through legislative proposals accompanied by increased guidance and awareness-raising
  • helping businesses, in particular small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) comply with occupational safety and health rules
  • cooperating with EU countries and social partners to remove or update outdated rules and to refocus efforts on ensuring better and broader protection, compliance and enforcement on the ground.

Healthcare and health workforce

Population ageing is expected to become an even greater challenge for the EU’s health sector in the coming decades. The demand for healthcare is expected to continue to increase as a result of an ageing population. At the same time, the proportion of people in work will often stagnate or, at least in some EU countries, decline. As a result, there may be staff shortages in certain medical specialisations or geographic areas. Other external issues affecting the healthcare workforce include technological innovation, changing care demands and migration patterns, while internal issues, other than simply workforce ageing, include issues of recruitment and retention, skills and geographic mismatches.

Health-related agencies in the EU

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) in Frösunda (Sweden) is an EU agency that provides surveillance of emerging health threats so that the EU can respond rapidly. It pools knowledge on current and emerging threats and works with national counterparts to develop disease monitoring across Europe, strengthening the EU’s defences against infectious diseases. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it provided information – including statistical information – on the Coronavirus disease. Regulation (EU) 2022/2370 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 November 2022 provides for a stronger and more robust ECDC. This will not only issue recommendations to EU countries regarding health threats preparedness but also host a new excellence network of EU reference laboratories and establish an EU Health Task Force for rapid health interventions in the event of a major outbreak.

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) works for the safe use of chemicals. It implements the EU’s chemicals legislation, benefiting human health, the environment, and innovation and competitiveness in Europe. Among other actions, the agency delivers independent, high-quality scientific opinions to guide EU actions; supports businesses to meet chemical legislation requirements; ensured the public and stakeholders get relevant, reliable and objective information.

The European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) was set up in 2002 to serve as an impartial source of scientific advice to risk managers and to communicate on risks associated with the food chain. The agency provides the scientific basis for the protection of EU consumers from food-related risks – from farm to fork. The core activities are to collect, appraise and integrate scientific evidence to answer questions about risks. The outcome is scientific advice to risk managers.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA), located in Amsterdam (the Netherlands), helps national regulators by coordinating scientific assessments concerning the quality, safety and efficacy of medicines that are used across the EU. All medicines in the EU must be approved nationally or by the EU before being placed on the market. The safety of pharmaceuticals that are sold in the EU is monitored throughout a product’s life cycle and individual products may be banned, or their sales/marketing suspended.

Having started in 2005 as the Public Health Executive Agency, after several transformations the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA) emerged in mid-2021. Among other actions, the HaDEA is involved in the implementation of 3 health-related programmes for the European Commission: most of the EU4Health programme, Horizon Europe Cluster 1 that focuses on health and the EU mission on cancer.

The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) is the EU’s information agency for occupational safety and health, located in Bilbao (Spain). The agency promotes a culture of risk prevention to improve working conditions, endeavouring to make workplaces safer, healthier and more productive for the benefit of businesses, employees and governments.

Support for analysis and research

In an effort to support EU countries better in their policymaking and to boost analytical capabilities, the EU brings together internationally renowned expertise in a 2-year information gathering cycle designed to gauge its progress towards providing effective, accessible and resilient health systems. Health at a glance: Europe (OECD and the European Commission) provides a neutral, descriptive comparison of the health status of the EU’s population and the performance of health systems.

Statistics on public health and health and safety at work

As noted earlier, the EU gathers statistical information in order to assess health issues and to support the effective design of policies and future actions. This statistical information needs to be based on a set of common EU health indicators for which there is an EU-wide agreement regarding definitions, collection and use. Examples include the European core health indicators (ECHI), sustainable development indicators and the European pillar of social rights.

In December 2008, the European Parliament and the Council adopted Regulation (EC) No 1338/2008 on Community statistics on public health and health and safety at work. The regulation is designed to ensure that health statistics provide adequate information for all EU countries to monitor EU actions in the field of public health and health and safety at work. The regulation lists 5 domains:

  • health status and health determinants
  • healthcare
  • causes of death
  • accidents at work
  • occupational diseases and other work-related health problems and illnesses.

A number of European Commission regulations were subsequently adopted specifying in detail the variables, analyses and metadata that EU countries should deliver:

European statistics on health are derived from 2 types of sources: administrative data and surveys. Administrative data sources are the basis for important statistical data collections such as human and technical resources and activities, healthcare expenditure, causes of death, and accidents at work; these data therefore reflect, to some degree, country-specific ways of organising healthcare and may not always be completely comparable. General population surveys in health statistics include


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Other articles

Database
Health status (hlth_state)
Health determinants (hlth_det)
Health care (hlth_care)
Causes of death (hlth_cdeath)
Health and safety at work (hsw)

Thematic section

Methodology

Metadata

Methodological manuals

Legislation

External links

European Commission

EU agencies

International organisations

Selected datasets
Health status (t_hlth_state)
Health care (t_hlth_care)
Causes of death (t_hlth_cdeath)
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