Wealthy Nations Lag Behind Smaller Economies in Global Health Goals, New Study Finds
Wealth alone does not make a country healthy, according to new joint research from the University of Surrey and its international partners, which evaluated 38 OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) countries on their progress toward global health goals.
The study, published in Annals of Operations Research, shows that some of the world's wealthiest nations-including the United States and Canada are falling behind smaller economies when it comes to achieving the UN's Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3): ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all. Meanwhile, countries like Iceland, Japan, and Norway lead the field, supported by strong healthcare systems and equitable access to care.
Using a new model developed collaboratively by researchers in Surrey, the study examined how efficiently each country converts health investments into outcomes such as life expectancy, disease prevention, and access to healthcare. The findings reveal that nations with well-integrated public health systems and strong preventive care achieve better results per pound spent than those that rely heavily on private healthcare.
Professor Ali Emrouznejad, co-author of the study and Professor and Chair in Business Analytics at the University of Surrey, said:
"Money isn't everything when it comes to a country's health. What matters is how effectively nations use their resources. Countries that prioritize prevention, universal access, and social equity tend to perform better than richer economies that focus more on spending than on strategy".
The team used a Joint Variable Selection Directional Distance Function model-an advanced, data-driven method that measures how efficiently countries convert economic and health resources into well-being outcomes. This approach also accounted for the impact of climate-related risks and showed that countries with strong environmental health strategies consistently achieve higher overall health scores.
The results highlight the importance of building efficient, equitable healthcare systems that integrate climate resilience into planning and service delivery. Professor Emrouznejad added:
"Policymakers should prioritize prevention, sustainability, and equitable access rather than simply increasing healthcare budgets. Our model identifies which countries make the most of their resources and which could learn from their approaches. It offers a practical roadmap for governments aiming to build sustainable, high-performing health systems without wasting resources".
