Commission addresses health literacy

The European Commission plans to challenge poor health literacy levels in Europe with a new internet-based tool called Health in Europe: Information and Data Interface (HEIDI). This is intended as a one-stop-shop on health information and data. The site is constantly updated by public health experts, researchers, civil society and national authorities. The initiative links in with the fact that half of all Europeans have inadequate or problematic levels of health literacy, as shown by a recent study carried out in 8 countries by a consortium of research centres, led by Maastricht University (NL). This measured the ability of people to access, understand, analyse and apply health information to take decisions allowing them to maintain their health, prevent diseases and seek treatment in case of illness. Nearly half (47%) of people surveyed showed limited health literacy, with large differences between countries – ranging from 1.6% inadequate levels of health literacy in the Netherlands to 26.3% in Bulgaria.

Low health literacy costs the US economy between $106 billion and $236 billion annually as people without knowledge of health issues are more likely to be hospitalised, to experience medication and treatment errors, and not seek preventive care.

In response to the survey, the European Health Literacy Consortium called for concrete actions from European and national policymakers as well as health professionals in order to empower citizens to increase their health literacy.

The issue is likely to be covered in the upcoming revised Directive on access to health information, which aims to improve and expand how pharmaceutical companies communicate about their medicines.

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