Wealth = health? Not necessarily, study finds • healthcare-in-europe.com

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. 

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.” 

Source: University of Surrey