STADA Health Report 2025: A healthy life – desired by many, lived by only half of Europeans
26.06.2025 13:54
Although satisfaction with healthcare systems has stabilized compared to previous years and now averages 58 percent, the results of the STADA Health Report 2025 clearly show that satisfaction does not automatically equate to fairness. Only just over half (51 percent) say that everyone in the country has equal access to medical care. 44 percent even describe their healthcare system as "unfair."
Even in countries with high levels of satisfaction, such as Belgium and Switzerland (81 percent each), there is a gap in the perception of fairness: Only 63 and 68 percent, respectively, consider their system fair. And only 15 percent of Europeans have complete confidence that their healthcare system would provide them with adequate care in an emergency.
Peter Goldschmidt, CEO of STADA, commented: "At STADA, it is our mission to promote people's health as a trusted partner. With the STADA Health Report, we use independent, anonymous data from 27,000 respondents to gain valuable insights and better understand future developments. By sharing this data with stakeholders in politics and healthcare, we are helping to make even better decisions for patients."
General practitioners and pharmacists as drivers of health
Despite this general impression, trust in healthcare system actors remains high. General practitioners (69 percent) and pharmacists (58 percent) continue to be among the most trusted healthcare professionals, far ahead of Google (20 percent), artificial intelligence (15 percent), and online influencers (11 percent).
Although trust in AI is not yet particularly deeply rooted, openness to the technology is growing. 39 percent can currently imagine seeking advice from AI on health issues, with this particularly true for many people in Denmark (48 percent) and Sweden (47 percent). Another 25 percent would be open to it in the future, once the technology has matured further. The main reasons for seeking advice from AI are constant availability (49 percent) and convenience thanks to time savings (45 percent).
Nevertheless, personal interaction remains a crucial factor for trust in healthcare matters. It makes doctors and pharmacists pioneers of self-determined care. Forty percent of respondents state that advice from pharmacy teams is a key reason for them to visit a brick-and-mortar pharmacy, 30 percent value it as a central point of contact for all their healthcare needs, and 28 percent emphasize the personal relationship with the people working there.
Healthy living: Ambition meets reality
Health awareness is high in Europe: 96 percent say a healthy lifestyle is important to them. 72 percent regularly engage in preventative health measures through exercise, dietary supplements, or a healthy diet. Two-thirds (66 percent) at least partially attend preventative medical checkups—an increase of 5 percentage points compared to 2023.
Nevertheless, although almost everyone strives for a healthy lifestyle, only half (51 percent) actually achieve it. People in Spain rate their lifestyle as the healthiest (68 percent) – and according to Eurostat, they also have the highest life expectancy in Europe. The main reasons cited for preventing an even healthier lifestyle are a lack of motivation (41 percent) and financial and psychological stress.
Those who are short on cash often live less healthily
However, a structural analysis reveals a recurring pattern in the STADA Health Report 2025: Mental health and financial stability are the key prerequisites for a healthy lifestyle. People with financial worries are less likely to live a healthy lifestyle (36 percent) than those with financial security (58 percent). Those experiencing financial difficulties are also less satisfied with the healthcare system (48 percent) and have less confidence in good care in the event of a serious illness (47 percent vs. 63 and 64 percent for those without financial worries).
Hidden crisis: Mental health as a central obstacle
The connection between financial hardship and mental health problems is clear: 72 percent of financially stressed people report burnout experiences, while only 49 percent describe their mental health as “good” (vs. 62 and 72 percent for people with a stable financial situation).
Overall, 64 percent of Europeans describe their mental health as "good" – most frequently in Romania (84 percent), Bulgaria (80 percent), Serbia and Switzerland (74 percent each), and France (71 percent). However, two-thirds (66 percent) have experienced burnout symptoms. Women (71 percent) and people under 35 (75 percent) are particularly affected. People struggling with mental health problems are three times less likely to live a healthy life (19 percent) than mentally healthy people (62 percent). Only 21 percent believe that mental and physical health are given equal consideration in the healthcare system – there is a clear need for action here.
"Whether physical or mental health," Goldschmidt summarizes, "the STADA Health Report provides reliable insights into relevant health topics and stimulates dialogue among key healthcare stakeholders – including the media. It identifies trends that will shape the future of healthcare. This anonymous and independent study with 27,000 respondents in 22 countries contributes to an even better understanding of patient needs and serves as an important basis for policymakers to make even better decisions."
About the Stada Health Report
Independent representative online study by Human8 on behalf of STADA.
Timeframe of the anonymous survey: February to March 2025.
Sample: Between 1,000 and 2,000 respondents each from Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Germany, France, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, the Czech Republic, Hungary, the United Kingdom and Uzbekistan.