In this article, we take a look at the 5 most advanced countries in medicine. If you want to check out our detailed analysis of the healthcare industry, go directly to 16 Most Advanced Countries in Medicine.
5. Taiwan
Citations per paper: 5.28
Healthcare Index: 78.72
Legatum-Prosperity Health Score: 83.37
Average: 10.33
Taiwan has a highly efficient healthcare system and infrastructure due to its use of modern medical technology. The country’s health insurance program provides widespread access to medical services and the country is often praised for its management of health crises, including Covid-19. Taiwan has a strong focus on preventative medicine and has been making strides in the epidemiology and public health fields. The medical devices market in Taiwan is expected to grow 2.35% annually from 2024-2028.
4. South Korea
Citations per paper: 6.32
Healthcare Index: 77.7
Legatum-Prosperity Health Score: 84.8
Average: 10.66
South Korea has made medical advancements in the last decade due to its advanced healthcare system and contributions to medical research. Most of their medical breakthroughs have been in the stem cell research, biotechnology, and genomics fields. The country is big on digital health as well, with 50% of Korean hospitals using a paperless healthcare system.
South Korea spends 9.7% of its GDP on health, which is around $4,570 per capita.
3. Norway
Citations per paper: 10.55
Healthcare Index: 64.63
Legatum-Prosperity Health Score: 82.98
Average: 10.67
Securing its place in the top three, Norway has one of the best healthcare systems in the world which offers universal coverage, accessible medical services, and paid preventive care to residents. The country has also made diverse research advancements, including the marine biotechnology field. Norway has also seen significant growth in the medical devices field, and the sector is expected to grow at a rate of 4.4% annually till 2026.
2. Netherlands
Citations per paper: 12.97
Healthcare Index: 65.38
Legatum-Prosperity Health Score: 82.05
Average: 12
The Netherlands has notable pharmaceutical companies like Argenx (NASDAQ: ARGX) which have helped make strides in the country’s drug development sector. Argenx (NASDAQ: ARGX) is a biotech company focused on autoimmune disorders. It had an annual revenue of $0.99 billion in 2023 and expects another profitable year in 2024. On January 17th, Argenx (NASDAQ: ARGX) announced the approval of VYVDURA® Injection for subcutaneous use in Japan, marking a significant milestone.
Overall, the Dutch pharmaceutical industry has contributed to both national and global healthcare. The Netherlands also has a well-developed and well-structured healthcare system, with 3.9 doctors available per 1000 people.
1. Sweden
Citations per paper: 11.78
Healthcare Index: 70.73
Legatum-Prosperity Health Score: 82.28
Average: 12
On number one, we have Sweden. Sweden is the birthplace of several medical inventions like the Pacemaker and Ultrasound. The country excels in medicine, having made major research contributions to the neuroscience and molecular biology fields over the years. As of 2024, it is the most advanced country in medicine according to our research and findings.
Sweden has also adopted eHealth solutions in recent years and has a track record of investing around $1.22 billion in healthcare IT annually. The digital health industry in Sweden is expected to reach market growth of around $780.1 million by 2028.
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