How can healthcare policy reduce inequalities and poverty in the EU? European Commission Report studies the impact of healthcare goods and services

How can healthcare policy reduce inequalities and poverty in the EU? European Commission Report studies the impact of healthcare goods and services

In October 2025, the European Commission published the report “The role of healthcare in reducing inequalities and poverty in the EU”. The report includes the results of a project with the same name, which developed an innovative methodology and metrics to assess access to healthcare across EU Member States (MS). This approach enables the analysis of the distributional impact of providing and funding health- related Social Transfers in-Kind (STiKs). Social Transfers in-Kind refer to situations where beneficiaries do not receive an amount of cash but goods (such as medicines) and/or services (such as medical treatments).

This toolkit helps to improve transparency and more informed decision-making by gauging the social effects of various health reform scenarios by anticipating their impacts on inequality, poverty and fiscal sustainability. It can also inform budget policies, highlighting the value of prioritising and safeguarding universal health coverage in times of tight fiscal space.

European Commission report “The role of healthcare in reducing inequalities and poverty in the EU” available here.