10 health questions about the new EU neighbours

Since 1 May 2004, the European Union (EU) has had 25 members, and 12 new neighbours. The EU's members differ in their populations' health status and their health systems' patterns of development. How does each of the neighbouring countries compare in terms of health to the EU - its members before and after May 2004 and the 25 countries as a whole?

This book offers a quick and easy way to grasp the essential features of health and health systems in the EU's neighbours. Each chapter provides a concise overview of key health indicators in 1 of the 12, comparing them to 3 averages for the EU: for its 25 current members the 15 members before May 2004 and the 10 new members. Each chapter also summarizes the key features of the country's health system and describes the results of more than a decade of health system reform.

This book is not an in-depth study, but an easy guide to the knowledge available and an accurate entry point to understanding health in the EU's 12 new neighbours.

The author is Albena Arnaudova

• Primary Source