Spain is the healthiest country in the world, according to a study of 169 nations by Bloomberg.
Four other European countries made it into the top 10: Iceland (third), Switzerland (fifth), Sweden (sixth) and Norway (ninth). France was 12th, Britain 19th, Portugal 22nd, Germany 23rd and Belgium 28th. Japan, which ranks fourth globally, is the healthiest nation in Asia.
So is it their food, lifestyle, pollution levels, or what I wonder?
Plenty of sunshine? Coastal areas with very healthy climate? Eating loads of garlic ? Nice long siestas?
I find it rather funny that Switzerland is fifth as they still smoke in public places cafes restaurants indoors!! They had a referendum on banning smoking in cafes et .....The 25 or so cantons voted overwhelming against a ban ..all except Geneva who wanted it......it’s really weird as we are close to the Swiss border , well half an hour driving, we did a trip in the motorhome around the lake , lake Geneva, and goung in places for a coffee it was horrible finding folk inside smoking, as we aren’t used to it anymore are we.......perhaps they eat healthy though because they earn hefty wage packets compared to the rest of Europe....and although things are very expensive, food is not and so they can choose good quality.....well that’s a theory??!
Sue
From what my expat friends tell me the healthcare system is excellent - part of the high rating could be the very short waiting times (certainly in rural Andalucia). If treatment is needed that can't be fulfilled locally patients can be sent to the nearest specialist hospital, which can be 150km away. Diet - very little processed food, even small villages have weekly markets with abundant fruit and vegetables, fish and meat. And the very elderly are always out and about, still part of the community. And as jeanjeannie50 says, pollution (or lack of) must play a part. My husband keeps his telescope in Spain as there is virtually no light pollution either and we see the most amazing night skies.
The Spanish system provides excellent medical care but the interesting part is that they expect patients families to take care of the rest, and if you cannot speak Spanish they will immediately provide you with a translator - for a fee, and insist you pay before you see the doctor.
The locals complain about the brits - 'Rich British pensioners, coming over here , getting free health care', etc, but the Spanish system claims the money back from the UK . The catch is that the money goes to the central govt, which takes a cut and passes it to the regional govt, which takes a cut, etc.
I don't have a problem with that at all. I am a guest in their country and have had excellent care whilst ill there. But the Spanish don't have it particularly easy either - there are no care homes where we are and the family and wider community are totally expected to step in and take care - and they do.
Interestingly the NHS has dropped from 21st to 35th and life expectancy is declining, efficiency score 46.3. If this rate of decline continues we will go from the top 10 to the bottom 10 just before the next elections. Should be Interesting.
The Americans come in at 54th, just above the bottom of the pile, despite spending the most on their Health care $9536, with a life expectancy of 78.7 years. efficiency score of 29.6
The Spanish come in at 82.8 years and spend $2354 per head and have an efficiency score of 69.3
Nutrition and Health/Mental Health - link to Zoe article
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