Excess mortality in the European Union saw a significant decline in November 2024, offering a glimmer of hope amidst ongoing challenges within the EU’s healthcare systems. Eurostat, the EU’s statistical office, reported a 5.0% excess mortality rate for November 2024, a notable decrease from the same period in 2023, representing 22,000 fewer deaths. Excess mortality is calculated by comparing the observed number of deaths during a specific period to the average number of deaths for that same period based on historical data, in this case, the average from 2016 to 2019. This metric serves as a crucial indicator of the overall health status of a population, reflecting the impact of various factors, including disease outbreaks, healthcare system capacity, and environmental influences. The decrease in excess mortality suggests a potential improvement in these contributing factors, although the baseline established from 2016-2019 itself may reflect pre-existing health challenges and disparities within the EU.
While the overall trend shows improvement, significant variations exist across member states. Seven countries, notably Malta (-16.1%), Romania (-12.3%), and Slovakia (-4.9%), recorded negative excess mortality, meaning fewer deaths than historically expected. This could be attributed to a variety of factors including improved public health measures, specific healthcare interventions, or demographic shifts. Conversely, 20 EU countries continued to experience excess deaths, highlighting the uneven distribution of health outcomes across the region. The highest excess mortality rates were observed in Finland (18.4%), Cyprus (18.0%), and the Netherlands (13.9%). These disparities underscore the complex interplay of factors influencing mortality rates at a national level, requiring further investigation to understand the underlying causes and inform targeted interventions. The regional variations within countries further emphasize this complexity, with specific areas experiencing significantly higher mortality burdens.
Within individual countries, stark regional disparities were observed. In Spain, the Madrid region recorded over 4,000 excess deaths, indicating a disproportionate impact within the country. Similarly, the Nord region in France experienced nearly 2,000 excess deaths, and Budapest, Hungary, reported 1,602 excess deaths. These regional variations highlight the importance of localized approaches to address health disparities, considering specific demographics, healthcare access, and potential environmental factors that may contribute to increased mortality within specific areas. Further research and data analysis are needed to pinpoint the driving forces behind these regional disparities and to tailor public health strategies to address the specific needs of these communities.
The backdrop against which these mortality figures are presented is a European healthcare system grappling with significant challenges. Throughout 2024, health systems across Europe were plagued by strikes, primarily driven by chronic staff shortages and persistently low pay for healthcare workers. These strikes disrupted healthcare services, potentially impacting patient care and adding further strain on an already overburdened system. The underlying issues of staff shortages and low pay are long-standing problems that have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and reflect a broader crisis in healthcare workforce sustainability across the EU. Addressing these systemic issues is crucial to ensuring the long-term resilience and effectiveness of European healthcare systems.
Compounding these workforce challenges, the COVID-19 pandemic exposed critical vulnerabilities in the EU’s pharmaceutical supply chains and medicines markets. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) reports ongoing shortages of 31 essential medications, including treatments for serious conditions like cancer, infertility, ADHD, and diabetes. These shortages have serious implications for patient care, potentially delaying or interrupting treatment and leading to adverse health outcomes. The causes of these shortages are complex and multifaceted, including manufacturing disruptions, supply chain bottlenecks, and regulatory hurdles. A concerted effort to strengthen the resilience of pharmaceutical supply chains and address the root causes of these shortages is essential to ensure patient access to critical medications.
In response to these challenges, the European Commission has proposed the Critical Medicines Act, a legislative initiative aimed at securing the supply of essential medicines within the EU. The Act, championed by EU Health Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi, aims to address the vulnerabilities exposed by the pandemic and strengthen the EU’s pharmaceutical resilience. However, despite its intended urgency, the Act has faced delays, raising concerns about the pace of progress on this critical issue. While Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has affirmed the initiative, the absence of a concrete timeline and its exclusion from initial Commission meeting schedules have created uncertainty surrounding its implementation. The timely passage and effective implementation of the Critical Medicines Act are crucial steps towards addressing the ongoing medicine shortages and bolstering the overall resilience of the EU’s healthcare system.
