Origin, Objectives and Methodology

Our healthcare system has been repeatedly put to the test by the crises of recent years. It is, therefore, no surprise that Europeans’ satisfaction with their healthcare system has declined, marked by long waiting times, overworked doctors and increasing bureaucracy. A lack of prevention, one of the most important levers for the health of Europeans, prevails. Nevertheless, Europeans are willing to invest in their own health. Many are changing their lifestyles, exercising more and eating healthier.

The basic prerequisites for Europeans to take responsibility for their own health are in place, but sufficient support from the healthcare system is still missing. We wanted to know where problems arise in order to identify possible solutions: how do Europeans rate the current state of their healthcare systems? Does this correlate with their overall trust in conventional medicine? How much faith do they place in healthcare policy-makers, doctors and pharmacists? The answers to these questions and much more can be found in the STADA Health Report 2024.

Looking back

Originally launched in 2014 as a national study to examine the “health literacy” of the German population, the STADA Health Report has consistently grown and is now celebrating its 10-year anniversary. Over the past years, it has become the largest and most comprehensive international study in the industry, covering a wide range of health-related topics. Since its international launch in 2019, the report has examined the behaviour of the European population and their physical and mental health concerning current trends and events, highlighting developments and changes over time. Following STADA’s Purpose of “Caring for People’s Health as a Trusted Partner”, this year’s Health Report not only uncovers uncomfortable truths and pressing issues, but also explores possible causes and solutions.

Sample and methodology 2024

The 2024 international survey was conducted by Human8 via an online questionnaire in February and March 2024 in the following 23 countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Uzbekistan. The panel included a total of 46,033 people with around 2,000 respondents aged 18 to 99 in each country. As always, the survey is representative in terms of age, gender and region.

The questionnaire consisted of more than 30 questions covering topics such as satisfaction with national healthcare systems, trust in doctors and pharmacists, health prevention, mental health, and more.

Geographically, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan form part of Central Asia. For the sake of this report and its readability, both countries and the results from their respective surveys, together with the 21 participating European nations, have been subsumed under the term “European”.