Overview

Mounting pressure from non-communicable diseases on Europe’s health systems is being exacerbated by the impact of climate change, with greater healthcare resource utilisation increasing greenhouse gas emissions. This threatens to create a vicious cycle. We urgently need to shift from reactive ‘sick care’ models to a proactive approach emphasising prevention, early diagnosis and effective treatment. Public-private partnerships piloting innovative programmes to increase healthcare efficiency and reduce environmental impact have demonstrated initial success. Governments can work to integrate health, economic and environmental policies and scale up best practices to achieve the best outcomes for patients and the planet.