Health expenses and financing: The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic

From 2013 to 2019, expenditure growth rates have increased sharply in almost all European countries. This increase followed a period of stabilization, or in many cases a negative trend in health expenditure ratios across the European Union, resulting from the economic crisis that began in 2008. Expenditure in 2020 in all European states was significantly affected by the COVID-19 disease pandemic. The level of health expenditure and how it changes over time depends on a wide range of factors, including the organizational structure of the health system. Examination of these data reveals wide fluctuations in the levels, with increase of expenditures, especially in the financing of countries to deal with the pandemic. The European Union has financed its member-states through special programmes, in order to cope with the increased demands. This article attempts to analyze the health costs before the COVID-19 period and the ways in which they have been affected during the pandemic. In addition, the impact of the spread of the pandemic on the supply chain of medical supplies and medical equipment, and its expenditure, at the national and the European Union level, is presented.