EU spends 80% on care, just 3-6% on health prevention - time to rebalance says Várhelyi

EURACTIV - Policymakers and patient groups have warned that chronic underinvestment in disease prevention is pushing EU healthcare towards a financial breaking point. Health systems are facing mounting pressure to shift resources away from treating illness towards preventing it – policymakers are seriously concerned that the current model is no longer financially sustainable. Read more

European Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare Oliver Varhelyi, Pictured, Brussels, Dec 9 2025 [Getty Images: Thierry Monasse / Contributor]