Bulgaria still has one of the worst health care systems in Europe, according the 2008 Euro Health Consumer Index (EHCI) report prepared by the Health Consumer Power House.

Te report ranks Bulgaria 28th among the 31 countries where data has been collected.

The EHCI 2008 total ranking of healthcare systems shows an unprecedented landslide victory for The Netherlands, scoring 839 points out of 1000, 19 points ahead of runners-up Denmark at 820 points, with a 36-point gap to the 2007 winner Austria, which is now in 3rd place with 784 points, followed by Luxembourg and Sweden.

From the six sub-disciplines covering 34 indicators, Bulgaria has collected 486 points.

The only three countries with worse results than Bulgaria are Croatia, Macedonia and Latvia.

"Bulgaria has quite a long way to go. Public health situation also suffers from severe life-style related problems (obesity, smoking, alcohol) affecting cardiac disease and other death rates," the report says.

The Health Consumer Power House President further stated that Bulgaria must improve the supply of pharmaceutical products, which is still one of the worst in the European Union in order to improve its poor ranking.

The Health Consumer Powerhouse measures the expanding European healthcare landscape since 2005. The report uses six main sub-disciplines - Patients Rights and Information, e-Health, Waiting Time for Treatment, Outcomes, Range and Reach of Services Provided, and Pharmaceuticals.

This year the EU candidate states of Croatia and FYR Macedonia have been included for the first time in the EHCI report.

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