The Observatory tries to support and promote evidence-informed policy-making. It uses comparative analysis of European health systems and trends to give decision-makers insights into how their own and other systems operate; what works better or worse in different contexts – and why. Ultimately the Observatory aims to help countries strengthen their health systems to improve their people’s health and wellbeing.

• Partnership: The partners understand real policy needs and the complexities of evidence, and together steer the Observatory’s work to ensure it is relevant and useful;
• Principles: The partnership is committed to policy relevance, impartiality, quality, flexibility and the public good;
• Networks: There are more than 600 academics and practitioners who work with the Observatory each year, sharing their knowledge and expertise – they are at the heart of the Observatory’s achievements;
• Staff: The Observatory has a dedicated staff team based in Brussels and at the LSE, LSHTM and TUB. They work across country, disciplinary and institutional boundaries to bring policy makers the evidence they need.