Dutch top for healthcare despite low drug spending

By Ben Hirschler

LONDON (Reuters) - The Netherlands topped on Thursday a European survey ranking healthcare systems according to consumer value, despite having one of the continent's lowest levels of spending on medicines.

Latvia came bottom of the 2008 Euro Health Consumer Index compiled by private Swedish company Health Consumer Powerhouse (HCP), which assesses a range of criteria including clinical outcomes, access to treatment, waiting times and patient rights.

The Dutch healthcare system has scored consistently well since the first league table was published four years ago, reflecting both the range and reach of its services.

"It is justified to say that the Dutch have the best healthcare system in Europe," said HCP President Johan Hjertqvist.

"When the Obama healthcare policy team looks in Europe for inspiration it seems to be the right system to study."

U.S. President-elect Barack Obama plans to overhaul the country's healthcare system to extend health insurance to millions of Americans who currently lack it.

The next best performers were Denmark, Austria, Luxembourg, Sweden and Germany.

Britain ranked 13th out of a field of 31, behind France in 10th place but ahead of Italy and Spain, ranked 16th and 18th respectively.