Press release: “Austria is Europe’s most consumer-friendly healthcare system, according to the 2007 Euro Health Consumer Index (EHCI) launched today in Brussels at a press conference. A combination of widespread access to treatment and excellence in outcomes allowed Austria to narrowly pip the 2005 winners, the Netherlands, from the top spot. Last year’s winners France has slipped to 3rd place. There is a small group of countries that compete for pre-eminence in excellence, separated only by minor differences. These are followed by a middle group of adequate performers and rapid improvers, with a rump of under-achievers. But no country in the index achieves more than 80% of their potential, and all remain in need of reform. The 2007 EHCI covers all 27 European Union members as well as Norway and Switzerland.”