Editiorial

Equity in health care financing and equity in access to health care have been long established as guiding principles in Europe. Although European patients are accustomed to pay for health care commodities, such as pharmaceuticals, extensive patient charges for public health care services are uncommon. Free-of-charge access to essential health care services is even seen as a patient’s right in some countries. Nevertheless, the scarcity of public resources, combined with the global economic crises, puts pressure on European governments to set new priorities. As a result, charges for public health care services are being extended in Europe as a means to shift health care costs to consumers and to reduce the need of government funding.