Numbeo Global Healthcare Survey Results
Online database Numbeo, which publishes metrics in areas such as the cost of living, has recently released its healthcare country-by-country index. The top ten ‘best countries for healthcare’ are:
- Taiwan
- South Korea
- Netherlands
- Japan
- Austria
- Denmark
- Ecuador
- Finland
- Spain
- Thailand
Taiwan tops the list for the seventh year running. The UK comes in at number 22, down from 18 in 2024. The USA has dropped one place to number 39. The bottom five countries are Iraq, Montenegro, Bangladesh, Venezuela and Syria.
Covid in the UK and Europe
Health authorities in the UK and across the EU have noted the presence of a virulent new strain of Covid this summer. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has confirmed that the new variant, NB.1.8.1, has been found in the UK. Although somewhat more infectious, it is counteracted by vaccination. Its hallmark feature is a ‘razor blade’ sore throat, alongside typical Covid symptoms such as a high temperature and a stuffy nose.
There are currently no Covid restrictions in the UK, including for entering and leaving the country. If you contract the virus, you are advised to stay at home, but free tests are no longer available — they must be purchased from a pharmacy.
Covid vaccinations will be available in early winter for those who:
- Are aged 75 or over
- Are aged 6 months to 74 years and have a weakened immune system because of a health condition or treatment
- Live in a care home for older adults
However, the government notes:
“Individuals do not require an NHS number or GP registration to receive the COVID-19 vaccination and should not be denied vaccination on this basis. Individuals who do not have an NHS number or are not registered with a GP are still entitled to free COVID-19 vaccinations.”
In the USA, the Covid-19 vaccine has no longer been required on Form I-693 since January of this year.
UK: Proposed VAT Rises on Private Healthcare
In the UK, the Independent Healthcare Providers Network (IHPN) is warning that rises in VAT on private healthcare – a move suggested by Labour’s Lord Kinnock – could result in Brits going abroad for ‘risky’ health treatments. Some argue the move could generate valuable revenue, up to £2bn, for the health service, but sections of the press remain sceptical. The Daily Telegraph reported in early August that people currently paying for private treatment to avoid lengthy NHS queues may return to the NHS if costs rise. There could also be a knock-on effect on BUPA.
David Hare of the IHPN told the i newspaper:
“Of course, some patients might choose not to use the NHS, but instead in desperation seek cut-price care abroad – with the clinical risks this entails, ultimately leaving the NHS to pick up the pieces.”
This concern comes amid UK press coverage of the urgent need for regulation in medical tourism, particularly weight-loss surgery. Poorly conducted treatment abroad, such as gastric band and gastric sleeve surgery, can be life-threatening if carried out improperly. The Foreign Office published figures in March 2024 showing that at least 28 British people have died since 2019 due to complications from elective medical procedures carried out in Turkey. Ahmed Ahmed, a consultant bariatric surgeon at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and president of the British Obesity & Metabolic Specialist Society, told The Guardian:
“I don’t even blame the surgeons abroad. They see a gap in the market and they’re exploiting it. They’re able to supply surgery at a much cheaper price. What I don’t like is when we see patients with problems from poorly conducted surgery. That upsets me a lot.”
British Traveller Warns of Illness Caused by Animal Encounters
A British tourist shared her recent experience with the Liverpool Echo earlier this month. Having travelled between Indonesia and Thailand, Alysha (surname not given) fell dangerously unwell and was diagnosed with salmonella and typhoid fever — both serious and potentially life-threatening conditions. Medics deduced that she contracted her illness through petting stray cats in the region.
“It started with severe aches throughout my whole body, almost like my bones were bruised. Then came the fever – I was violently shivering in 34C heat, then vomiting constantly. I couldn’t even keep water down – that’s when I knew I needed urgent help.”
On an island without a hospital, Alysha was placed on a drip at a dosage level that could have caused cardiac arrest. She eventually made it back to the mainland and is now recovering, but spoke to the Echo to highlight the potential risks of contact with stray animals. Cats cannot directly transmit typhoid to humans, but they can carry forms of salmonella, such as nontyphoidal salmonellosis, which can cause symptoms including fever and diarrhoea. This is presumably what Alysha contracted.
Medical experts advise that travellers to regions where typhoid is prevalent should get vaccinated. To avoid contracting diseases from animals, avoid petting strays and wash your hands. Carrying a basic medical kit with rehydration tablets is also recommended, as is taking out travel insurance with medical evacuation cover.
The World’s Top Ten Hospitals
A recent survey of the world’s top ten hospitals ranked them as follows:
- Mayo Clinic, Rochester, USA
- Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, USA
- Toronto General, University Health Network, Canada
- Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, USA
- Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, USA
- Charité – Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
- Sheba Medical Center, Tel HaShomer, Israel
- Singapore General Hospital (SGH), Singapore
- University Hospital Zurich (USZ), Switzerland
The survey, published by Newsweek, is based on data covering hygiene standards, patient safety, staffing levels, clinical outcomes, and patient experience and satisfaction. The ranking above reflects overall excellence; rankings by speciality vary. For instance, the Mayo Clinic (USA) and Sheba Medical Center (Israel) top the listings for gastroenterology.