WHO Urges Andorra to Bolster Health Policies for System Sustainability
WHO recommends strengthening prevention, primary care, and workforce planning in Andorra to address NCDs and ensure long-term health system.
Key Points
- Andorra's 2023 life expectancy: 84.6 years, >98% coverage, low infant mortality.
- Funded by CASS, managed by SAAS including Meritxell Hospital.
- Challenges: NCDs like cancer/cardiovascular top deaths.
- Priorities: Health promotion, workforce planning, telemedicine.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended that Andorra strengthen prevention policies, primary care, and healthcare workforce planning to secure the sustainability of its health system.
These steps feature prominently in the WHO's report *Health Systems in Action – Andorra*, which highlights the country's advantageous position. Andorra achieved a life expectancy of 84.6 years in 2023—one of Europe's highest—thanks to healthcare coverage exceeding 98% of the population, broad access to medical services, low infant mortality, and strong vaccination rates.
The report notes that the system relies on funding from the Andorran Social Security Fund (CASS) and oversight by the Andorran Health Care Service (SAAS), which manages Nostra Senyora de Meritxell Hospital and the primary care network.
Looking ahead, the WHO points to persistent challenges from non-communicable diseases, with cancer and cardiovascular conditions as the top causes of death. It calls for intensified health promotion, disease prevention, and encouragement of healthy habits among residents. Additional priorities include improved service coordination, forward-looking workforce strategies to counter an aging professional base, and greater use of digital tools such as telemedicine to enhance efficiency and access.
Andorran authorities have not yet issued a public response to the report's suggestions.
Original Sources
This article was aggregated from the following Catalan-language sources: