EVALUATION OF THE PERFORMANCE OF EUROPEAN HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS THROUGH CRITERIA OPTIMISATION

Abstract

This study highlights the importance of using multi-criteria optimisation methods in the performance analysis of European health systems. The complementary use of SAW, TOPSIS, VIKOR and PROMETHEE II methods has enabled an assessment of the European healthcare system based on health indicators (life expectancy at birth, public expenditure on health (% of GDP), number of doctors per 1,000 inhabitants, preventable and treatable mortality rate, Euro Health Consumer Index (EHCI), number of beds per 1,000 inhabitants and infant mortality rate (per 1,000 births). The results of the study show that while Western European countries perform exceptionally well, Eastern European and Balkan countries perform less well, reflecting the need for public policies aimed at reducing inequalities and improving access to healthcare. According to the study, multi-criteria approaches are optimisation tools for the comprehensive assessment of health system performance. The combination of the methods analysed reinforces the conclusions and provides an understanding of the current state of public health in Europe.