Health Systems in Transition - Hungary - World Health Organization ...

194
Health systems in transition Hungary
individuals was similar to that seen in the lowest income quartile of the general
population (Kósa et al., 2007) (see also sections 5.14 and 7.4.3 for equity of
health outcomes).
Structural reforms to reorganize care capacities and payment reforms to
decrease inequities in access to care and to tackle informal payments to achieve
a more efficient and more equitable service delivery system remain on the
policy agenda and are among the most difficult challenges that policy-makers
face today.
7.4 Health outcomes, health service outcomes and
quality of care
7.4.1 Population health
When looking at population health trends, it is usually difficult to discern
the extent to which health care and, in consequence, the health care system,
contributes to change. In Hungary, however, the clear change of regime in 1989
brought about the introduction of a new health system, which has been evolving
ever since. This change was coupled, at least chronologically, with a change
in population health status: life expectancy decreased for men and plateaued
for women until the mid-1990s, a phenomenon unique in central Europe at
the time (see section 1.4). Since the mid-1990s, however, Hungary has seen a
strong and steady increase in life expectancy at birth among men and women
alike (see Table 1.3). Half of this increase has been attributed to a decrease
in cardiovascular mortality over the same period. Other mortality indicators,
however, have continued to increase and Hungary still trails behind the EU and
regional averages regarding life expectancy (see section 1.4).
The main causes of death in Hungary are diseases of the circulatory
system, malignant neoplasms, diseases of the digestive system (including
liver disease) and external causes (including suicide). Communicable diseases
play a subordinate role, with the incidence and mortality rates for most
childhood infectious diseases continuing to be lower than the EU12 average
(WHO Regional Office for Europe, 2011) (for trends over time see Table 1.4).
Lifestyle factors – especially the traditionally unhealthy Hungarian diet, alcohol
consumption and smoking – play an important role in shaping the overall health
of the population.