Healthcare systems globally have been put under heavy stress since the coronavirus pandemic. According to the BBC, there has been a direct “correlation between a country’s ability to contain the virus and previous rankings of its healthcare system to provide health outcomes.”
Since having a great healthcare system is crucial to a country’s success with battling COVID-19, we became curious about the healthiest countries to live in.
The Legatos Prosperity Index was conducted in 2019 and rates the healthiest countries based on the access to healthcare, mortality rates, social prosperity policies and conditions, and illnesses and risk factors.
These are the 10 healthiest countries in the world:
Singapore
With one of the highest life expectancy rates in the world, Singaporeans have diets rich in vegetables and fish. The healthcare systems are extremely efficient and residents put a lot of emphasis on managing their health.
Japan
Japan has been doing an amazing job of managing COVID-19 cases. Although there hasn’t been a lockdown, Japan has been testing and diagnosing its citizens in a speedy manner.
“The patient can get treatment quickly. This is one of the reasons Japan doesn’t have many severe cases,” says AirDoctor, a service that connects patients with doctors globally, to BBC.
Japan has also been handling the pandemic well because its society was already very health conscious.
“Many Japanese already wear a face mask, especially in winter and spring, and it is also one of the reasons that we don’t have a big outbreak yet. Additionally, more than 60% of Japanese have an annual health check-up, and we try to keep [in] good health condition, so it is another cause of less severe cases,” says Dr. Mika Washio to BBC.
Switzerland
There isn’t universal health coverage in Switzerland but the healthcare standards are extremely high. There are usually no waiting lists and most doctors speak English, so there is seldom any language barrier.
South Korea
South Korea battled Mers (Middle-East Respiratory Syndrome) in 2015, so they are no strangers to an outbreak. Many of the healthcare providers were already trained and prepared and as a result, have been experiencing between 47 – 53 infections daily.
“With the COVID-19 outbreak, many [people] were diagnosed early and proper management was applied in a timely manner,” says Dr. Brandon B Suh of Seoul to BBC.
Yongbok Lee, a Seoul office worker says, “The government stabilized the supply of masks by implementing a new measure in the purchase of the mask, matching each day with the last digit of the birth year. Many [places] check body temperatures before entering buildings and large buildings even have thermal cameras installed.”
Norway
Norway has been a very healthy nation for a while and it’s because residents get plenty of exercise, eats a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, drink little to no alcohol, and limit the amount of junk food eaten.
A lot of the food eaten by Norwegians is organic and locally produced and they believe in spending lots of time in nature.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong incorporates health education in school curriculums early on as well as providing easy access to healthy foods and public amenities such as walking routes.
There is also universal health care for hospital treatment and everyone gets treated with urgency.
Residents also eat a diet rich in fruit, vegetables, and fresh fish.
Iceland
With a mix of healthy food and plenty of outdoor activity, Icelanders generally live a very healthy lifestyle. Most people eat fresh seafood and incorporate rock climbing and kayaking in their workout routines.
Denmark
Denmark, known as the happiest country, puts a lot of emphasis on enjoying life and not getting stressed. Many of its residents stay active daily by riding their bikes or walking all around the city. They also maintain a healthy diet and eats everything in moderation.
The Netherlands
The Netherlands puts a huge emphasis on eating vegetables and eating high-quality foods.
There are also lower food prices and diabetes levels compared to other countries.
Austria
Austria ensures that all of its citizens receive publicly funded health care and life expectancy continues to rise as more money is invested into their healthcare system.