New analysis shows national wealth doesn’t guarantee better health, as 38 OECD countries progress unevenly toward global goals.
A country’s economic strength does not necessarily translate into better population health. By evaluating 38 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) member nations, the research reveals that countries differ widely in how far they have advanced toward global health objectives, indicating that wealth alone is not a reliable indicator of national well-being.(1✔ ✔Trusted Source
The world’s healthiest countries aren’t the richest
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TOP INSIGHT
Did You Know?
How can a nation’s #GDP rise for years while its people get sicker?
Because economic growth counts hospital bills as “wealth,” but doesn’t measure actual health. More illness can literally inflate GDP, making a country look richer on paper while its population declines.
#publichealthfacts #economicsandhealth #gdpparadox #healthinequality #wellbeingeconomy #globalhealthinsights #medindia
Global Leaders and Laggards in Health Performance
The study, published in Annals of Operations Research, shows that some of the world’s wealthiest nations, including the United States and Canada, lag behind smaller economies in achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3) – ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all.
Meanwhile, countries such as Iceland, Japan and Norway lead the way, supported by robust health systems, equitable access to care.
Using a new model co-developed by Surrey researchers, the study assessed how efficiently each country converts health investments into outcomes such as life expectancy, disease prevention and healthcare access.
The results highlight that nations with well-integrated public health systems and preventative care achieve better outcomes for every pound spent, compared to those relying heavily on private healthcare.
Efficient, Equitable, Climate-Ready Health Systems Lead the World
Professor Ali Emrouznejad, co-author of the study and Professor and Chair in Business Analytics at the University of Surrey, said:
“Money isn’t everything when it comes to national health. It’s how effectively countries use their resources that matters. Nations that prioritise prevention, universal access and social equity tend to outperform richer economies that focus more on spending than on strategy.”
The team used a Joint Variable Selection Directional Distance Function model – an advanced data-driven method that measures how efficiently countries turn economic and health resources into well-being outcomes. This approach also incorporated for the impact of climate-related risks, revealing that countries with strong environmental health policies tend to consistently achieve higher overall health scores.
Building Stronger, Sustainable Health Systems
The findings underscore the importance of building efficient, equitable healthcare systems that integrate climate resilience into their planning and delivery.
Professor Emrouznejad added:“Policymakers should prioritise on prevention, sustainability and equitable access over simply increasing health budgets. Our model highlights which countries make the most of what they have, and which could learn from their approaches. It provides a practical roadmap for governments aiming to achieve sustainable, high-performing health systems without wasting resources.”
Reference:
- New research shows prevention, equity and system efficiency matter more for national health than sheer wealth in top-ranking countries – (https:www.surrey.ac.uk/news/worlds-healthiest-countries-arent-richest)
Source-University of Surrey