IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v19y2022i9p4950-d797015.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Challenges and Drawbacks of the EU Medical System Generated by the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Field of Health Systems’ Digitalization

Author

Listed:
  • Alexandra-Mădălina Țăran

    (Doctoral School of Economics and Business Administration, West University of Timisoara, 300223 Timisoara, Romania)

  • Lavinia Mustea

    (Department of Finance, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, West University of Timisoara, 300223 Timisoara, Romania)

  • Sorana Vătavu

    (Department of Finance, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, West University of Timisoara, 300223 Timisoara, Romania)

  • Oana-Ramona Lobonț

    (Department of Finance, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, West University of Timisoara, 300223 Timisoara, Romania)

  • Magda-Mihaela Luca

    (Department of Dentistry, Victor Babeş University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania)

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic and the digitalization of medical services present significant challenges for the medical sector of the European Union, with profound implications for health systems and the provision of high-performance public health services. The sustainability and resilience of health systems are based on the introduction of information and communication technology in health processes and services, eliminating the vulnerability that can have significant consequences for health, social cohesion, and economic progress. This research aims to assess the impact of digitalization on several dimensions of health, introducing specific implications of the COVID-19 pandemic. The research methodology consists of three procedures: cluster analysis performed through vector quantization, agglomerative clustering, and an analytical approach consisting of data mapping. The main results highlight the importance of effective national responses and provide recommendations, various priorities, and objectives to strengthen health systems at the European level. Finally, the results reveal the need to reduce the gaps between the EU member states and a new approach to policy, governance, investment, health spending, and the performing provision of digital services.

Suggested Citation

  • Alexandra-Mădălina Țăran & Lavinia Mustea & Sorana Vătavu & Oana-Ramona Lobonț & Magda-Mihaela Luca, 2022. "Challenges and Drawbacks of the EU Medical System Generated by the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Field of Health Systems’ Digitalization," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-26, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:9:p:4950-:d:797015
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/9/4950/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/9/4950/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jani KINNUNEN & Armenia ANDRONICEANU & Irina GEORGESCU, 2019. "Digitalization Of Eu Countries: A Clusterwise Analysis," Proceedings of the INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE, Faculty of Management, Academy of Economic Studies, Bucharest, Romania, vol. 13(1), pages 1-12, November.
    2. Jorge Simões & João Paulo Moreira Magalhães & André Biscaia & António da Luz Pereira & Gonçalo Figueiredo Augusto & Inês Fronteira, 2021. "Organisation of the State, model of health system and COVID‐19 health outcomes in six European countries, during the first months of the COVID‐19 epidemic in 2020," International Journal of Health Planning and Management, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 36(5), pages 1874-1886, September.
    3. Daniel Lucheș & Despina Saghin & Maria-Magdalena Lupchian, 2021. "Public Perception of the First Major SARS-Cov-2 Outbreak in the Suceava County, Romania," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-16, February.
    4. Jarmila Zimmermannova & Lukas Pavlik & Ekaterina Chytilova, 2022. "Digitalisation in Hospitals in COVID-19 Times—A Case Study of the Czech Republic," Economies, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-15, March.
    5. Gabriel Brătucu & Andra Ioana Maria Tudor & Lavinia Dovleac & Silvia Sumedrea & Ioana Bianca Chițu & Adrian Trifan, 2020. "The Impact of New Technologies on Individuals’ Health Perceptions in the European Union," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-14, December.
    6. Rizvi, Syeda Amna & Umair, Muhammad & Cheema, Muhammad Aamir, 2021. "Clustering of countries for COVID-19 cases based on disease prevalence, health systems and environmental indicators," Chaos, Solitons & Fractals, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    7. Letícia J. Marteleto & Gilvan Guedes & Raquel Z. Coutinho & Abigail Weitzman, 2020. "Live Births and Fertility Amid the Zika Epidemic in Brazil," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 57(3), pages 843-872, June.
    8. Stavytskyy Andriy & Kharlamova Ganna & Stoica Eduard Alexandru, 2019. "The Analysis of the Digital Economy and Society Index in the EU," TalTech Journal of European Studies, Sciendo, vol. 9(3), pages 245-261, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Chien-Lung Chan & Chi-Chang Chang, 2022. "Big Data, Decision Models, and Public Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-9, July.
    2. Andreea-Florentina Crăciun & Alexandra-Mădălina Țăran & Grațiela Georgiana Noja & Marilen Gabriel Pirtea & Raluca-Ioana Răcătăian, 2023. "Advanced Modelling of the Interplay between Public Governance and Digital Transformation: New Empirical Evidence from Structural Equation Modelling and Gaussian and Mixed-Markov Graphical Models," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-25, February.
    3. Jorge Moya & María Goenechea, 2022. "An Approach to the Unified Conceptualization, Definition, and Characterization of Social Resilience," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-15, May.
    4. Lobonț Oana-Ramona & Țăran Alexandra-Mădălina & Vătavu Sorana & Para Iulia, 2023. "Scientific Radiography of Healthcare System Process Efficiency Digitalisation," Zagreb International Review of Economics and Business, Sciendo, vol. 26(2), pages 113-136.
    5. Kamer-Ainur Aivaz & Ionela Florea Munteanu & Mari-Isabella Stan & Alina Chiriac, 2022. "A Multivariate Analysis of the Links between Transport Noncompliance and Financial Uncertainty in Times of COVID-19 Pandemics and War," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-23, August.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. BOGOSLOV Ioana Andreea & LUNGU Anca Elena, 2020. "The Relationship Between Entrepreneurship And Digitalization - Spotlight On The Eu Countries," Studies in Business and Economics, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, Faculty of Economic Sciences, vol. 15(3), pages 5-15, December.
    2. Shuaitao Jiao & Qiubi Sun, 2021. "Digital Economic Development and Its Impact on Econimic Growth in China: Research Based on the Prespective of Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-19, September.
    3. Ane-Mari Androniceanu & Irina Georgescu & Manuela Tvaronavičienė & Armenia Androniceanu, 2020. "Canonical Correlation Analysis and a New Composite Index on Digitalization and Labor Force in the Context of the Industrial Revolution 4.0," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-20, August.
    4. Mihaela Brindusa Tudose & Amalia Georgescu & Silvia Avasilcăi, 2023. "Global Analysis Regarding the Impact of Digital Transformation on Macroeconomic Outcomes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-21, March.
    5. Luca Maria Pesando & Alejandra Abufhele, 2022. "Declining Quantity and Quality of Births in Chile Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic," Working Papers 20220081, New York University Abu Dhabi, Department of Social Science, revised Nov 2022.
    6. Aneta Bobenič Hintošová & Glória Bódy, 2023. "Sustainable FDI in the Digital Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-15, July.
    7. Majcherek, Dawid & Hegerty, Scott William & Kowalski, Arkadiusz Michał & Lewandowska, Małgorzata Stefania & Dikova, Desislava, 2024. "Opportunities for healthcare digitalization in Europe: Comparative analysis of inequalities in access to medical services," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 139(C).
    8. Sobotka, Tomas & Jasilioniene, Aiva & Galarza, Ainhoa Alustiza & Zeman, Kryštof & Nemeth, Laszlo & Jdanov, Dmitri, 2021. "Baby bust in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic? First results from the new STFF data series," SocArXiv mvy62, Center for Open Science.
    9. Despina Saghin & Maria-Magdalena Lupchian & Daniel Lucheș, 2022. "Social Cohesion and Community Resilience during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Northern Romania," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(8), pages 1-15, April.
    10. Joanna Brzyska & Izabela Szamrej-Baran, 2021. "Classification of the EU Countries According to the Vulnerability of their Economies to the Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(2B), pages 967-978.
    11. Tünde Zita Kovács & Beáta Bittner & László Huzsvai & András Nábrádi, 2022. "Convergence and the Matthew Effect in the European Union Based on the DESI Index," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-23, February.
    12. Daniel Dench & Wenhui Li & Theodore Joyce & Howard Minkoff & Gretchen Wye, 2024. "Fertility in the Heart of the COVID-19 Storm," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 43(4), pages 1-20, August.
    13. Gby Atee & Aparajita Dasgupta & Sneha Lamba, 2024. "The Effect of COVID-19 on Fertility in India: Evidence from the National Family Health Survey," Working Papers 115, Ashoka University, Department of Economics.
    14. Arpino, Bruno & LUPPI, FRANCESCA & Rosina, Alessandro, 2021. "Changes in fertility plans during the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy: the role of occupation and income vulnerability," SocArXiv 4sjvm, Center for Open Science.
    15. Claudiu George Bocean & Anca Antoaneta Vărzaru, 2023. "EU countries’ digital transformation, economic performance, and sustainability analysis," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-15, December.
    16. Cristina Nicolau & Eliza Nichifor & Daniel Munteanu & Oana Bărbulescu, 2022. "Decoding Business Potential for Digital Sustainable Entrepreneurship: What Romanian Entrepreneurs Think and Do for the Future," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-21, October.
    17. Georgeta Soava & Anca Mehedintu & Mihaela Sterpu, 2022. "Analysis and Forecast of the Use of E-Commerce in Enterprises of the European Union States," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-29, July.
    18. Marti, Luisa & Puertas, Rosa, 2023. "Analysis of European competitiveness based on its innovative capacity and digitalization level," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    19. Dongchu Han & Mianfang Liu, 2022. "How Does the Digital Economy Empower Green Development? From the Perspective of the Division of Labor in New Classical Economics," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-18, November.
    20. Georgescu Irina & Androniceanu Ane-Mari & Kinnunen Jani & Drăgulănescu Irina Virginia, 2021. "Correlative approach to digitalization and economic growth," Proceedings of the International Conference on Business Excellence, Sciendo, vol. 15(1), pages 44-57, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:9:p:4950-:d:797015. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.