Levensverwachting burgers uit 15 oude lidstaten is hoger dan in de nieuwe Oost-Europese lidstaten (en)

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - While EU enlargement may have ended the political division of Europe, a "health divide" still spans the continent, a report presented yesterday (13 May) shows.

The report, conducted by the London School of Economics and the Paris-based Institute for Health Sciences, shows large differences between old and new member states in levels of life expectancy as well as health.

Whereas populations in the "old" member states have a life expectancy of around 78.7 years of age, this figure in new EU countries in Central and Eastern Europe lies between 70 and 76.

Only Cyprus (79.4) and Malta (78.9) are above the EU average, whereas Slovenia (76.5) is slightly below.

Life expectancy is worst in the Baltic states Estonia (70.7), Latvia (70.1) and Lithuania (71.8).

Also, central Europeans enjoy a shorter life in good health - with an average of 62.5 years compared to 70.12 years in the EU-15.

Bad habits, poor health systems

The differences between "old" and "new" member states are due to several reasons.

A great concern is the high level of cardiovascular (heart) diseases in central Europe, caused by excessive consumption of alcohol, high-fat diets, and high levels of smoking.

Road traffic accidents, suicide and homicide are also causes of the poor health record of the central European region, while a relatively new challenge is posed by infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and HIV.

Moreover, health care systems are inadequate compared to Western European standards, the report says. It has proven to be very difficult to reform the formerly communist systems, which were not only highly inefficient, but also gravely under-funded.

Health costs in the EU: out of control?

Health spending as part of the national income (GDP) in the new EU countries lags behind EU average: between 5 and 7.5 % in central and Eastern European countries compared to 8.9% in the EU-15.

Ironically, policy makers in the "old" EU are increasingly worried of the size of their percentage expenditure on health.

Given the ageing of the European population, this percentage is expected to rise further, and at a rapid pace.

Significantly, the EU Finance ministers discussed the issue of health expenditure last Tuesday for the first time as part of the agenda of their meeting.

"If countries do not take measures, health spending costs will get fully out of control", one Dutch spokesman present at the meeting told the EUobserver.

"We risk higher deficits in several countries, which will have a negative effect on the stability and the strength of the euro".