European Commission: Cost of unsafe care and cost-effectiveness of patient safety programmes

A European Commission report by Gesundheit Österreich Forschungs- und Planungs GmbH and SOGETI evaluates the impact of patient safety and cost-effectiveness programmes in healthcare systems of EU member states. The economic burden of unsafe and inefficient care in member states is significant and most of the adverse events that account for excessive expenditure are considered to be preventable. This report provides three major guidelines for improving patient safety and cost-effectiveness initiatives for the EU/EEA Member States:

1. A comprehensive assessment of the financial impact of poor patient safety, poor prevention and control of healthcare-associated infections in EU health systems;
2. Identification and evaluation of cost-effective patient safety programmes already implemented in EU healthcare systems;
3. Assessment of cost-effectiveness and efficiency of investment in the identified programmes.

Read the full report