Europe is facing a growing health crisis despite its well-regarded healthcare systems, with rising rates of non-communicable diseases, mental health issues, and vaccination hesitancy, shows the new World Health Organization (WHO) report.
(Krzysztof Ryncarz | Euractiv Poland)
Europe is often seen as a continent with a high standard of healthcare. However, the latest report from the World Health Organization (WHO) highlights a number of health challenges facing the region.
The WHO’s report on health in Europe is published every three years and covers 53 countries across Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia.
According to the WHO, one in six people in the region dies before the age of 70 from non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and respiratory diseases.
A major contributing factor to many diseases in Europe is its world-leading rate of alcohol consumption. On average, each adult in Europe consumes 8.8 litres of pure alcohol annually. Additionally, 25.3 percent of Europeans smoke, and 25 percent of adults are obese.
The WHO also highlights child mortality as a concern. While the region has a relatively low child death rate, 76,000 children under five still die each year.
Vaccination reluctance is another issue. For example, only 35 percent of people in Europe are vaccinated against HPV, and 2023 saw a significant increase in measles cases, with 58,000 confirmed cases across 41 European countries.
Mental health problems are also on the rise among young Europeans. On average, 20 percent of teenagers in Europe struggle with mental health issues, and suicide is the leading cause of death among those aged 15 to 29.
WHO experts emphasise the importance of prioritising the health of children and adolescents. The report shows that nearly one-third of school-age children in Europe are overweight, and one-eighth are obese. Furthermore, 11 per cent of European teenagers smoked cigarettes or e-cigarettes in 2022.
“A healthy child is more likely to grow into a healthy adolescent, a healthy adult, and a healthy older person. This couldn’t be more crucial, as for the first time ever, there are more people aged over 65 than under 15 in the European Region,” said Dr. Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe.
Despite these challenges, the WHO also notes positive developments. At least 10 countries in the region have achieved the goal of reducing premature deaths from non-communicable diseases by 25 percent.
“Premature mortality caused by non-communicable diseases is declining in the WHO European Region, as is suicide mortality. The incidence of tuberculosis is also decreasing,” Kluge added.
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