Management in Europe

Across Europe and increasingly the rest of the world, the economic costs of chronic illness dwarf the costs of acute illnesses, both for the health care system and for other stakeholders. Employers must contend with substantial productivity losses, while the indirect costs of treatment that patients and families cope with can be debilitating, particularly when insurance coverage is less comprehensive. These economic costs can send ill patients and their families into poverty, creating a poverty cycle that may last for generations. Disparities in the burden of chronic disease exist between western Europe and the central and eastern countries, and current trends indicate that the burden of chronic illness is likely to grow. The current primary care model is focused more on acute episodes of care than recurrent care for chronic conditions. The implication is that strong doctor-patient relationships are not promoted, training is rarely sufficient for chronic disease management, and there is insufficient continuity and coordination of the patient’s journey through the health care system. European countries have taken a variety of approaches to address the growing chroni