2024 ZS Future of Health Report
Healthcare must be accessible, affordable and equitable
In all the markets we surveyed, attitudes around accessibility, cost and fairness play a huge role in shaping views about the healthcare system. When asked what they want from future healthcare encounters, individual respondents told us they want but are not always receiving:
Other than in Sweden, the percentage of people in every country who said “I feel like the healthcare system doesn’t care about people like me” increased between 2022 and 2023. This perception comes with a cost: Three-quarters of individuals in every country except Japan said they put off care because accessing it is so frustrating.
On a more encouraging note, we saw an increase in the number of individuals in the U.S. and Germany who are motivated to care for their mental health. And more than 50% of individuals in the U.S., U.K. and China said connected health tools could help them prevent illness and maintain better health. What’s more, healthcare providers and individuals are aligned on the importance of preventive care and agree that it will play a critical role in improving the healthcare experience.
In all the markets we surveyed, attitudes around accessibility, cost and fairness play a huge role in shaping views about the healthcare system. When asked what they want from future healthcare encounters, individual respondents told us they want but are not always receiving:
- Preventive care that’s accessible for everyone
- Greater coordination of care between providers
- Transparent billing practices
- Easier appointment scheduling
- Seamless access to medical records and histories
Other than in Sweden, the percentage of people in every country who said “I feel like the healthcare system doesn’t care about people like me” increased between 2022 and 2023. This perception comes with a cost: Three-quarters of individuals in every country except Japan said they put off care because accessing it is so frustrating.
On a more encouraging note, we saw an increase in the number of individuals in the U.S. and Germany who are motivated to care for their mental health. And more than 50% of individuals in the U.S., U.K. and China said connected health tools could help them prevent illness and maintain better health. What’s more, healthcare providers and individuals are aligned on the importance of preventive care and agree that it will play a critical role in improving the healthcare experience.
