Structural effects of the information revolution on tax-funded European health systems and some potential policy responses

• Authors: Richard Saltman, Emory University
• Journal Title: Israel Journal of Health Policy Research
• Volume: Volume 8, Number 1
• Publisher: BMC (part of Springer Nature) | 2019-01-09, Pages 8-8
• Type of Work: Article | Final Publisher PDF
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.1186/s13584-018-0284-2
• Subjects: Health Sciences, Public Health; Health Sciences, Health Care Management
• Keywords: Science & Technology; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; Health Policy & Services; Public, Environmental & Occupational Health; Health Care Sciences & Services; European health systems; Tax-funded health systems; European health policy; health services reform; health systems management; CARE REFORM; INSURANCE; IRELAND

Abstract

The ongoing information revolution has re-configured the policymaking arena for tax-funded health systems in Europe. A combination of constrained public revenues with rapid technological and clinical change has created a particularly demanding set of operational challenges. Tax-funded health systems face three ongoing struggles: 1) finding badly needed new public revenues despite inadequate GDP growth 2) channeling additional funds into new high-quality provider capacity 3) re-configuring the stasis-tied organizational structure and operations of existing public providers. This commentary reviews key elements of this new information-revolution-driven context, followed by a consideration of seven specific policy challenges that it creates and/or worsens for tax-funded European systems going forward.