VFA Report on Quality of Life in 2006: Germany clearly lags behind in a European comparison

The quality of life of the German population has significantly deteriorated in a European comparison. This was the result of the VFA Report on Quality of Life in 2006, which was presented during a press conference in Berlin today. On behalf of the German Association of Research-based Pharmaceutical Companies (VFA), the Mannheim Center for European Social Research (MZES) and the Center for Surveys, Methods and Analyses (ZUMA) investigated the development of the quality of life in Germany.

"When it comes to improving the quality of life, the years from 1995 to 2005 were a lost decade," said Prof. Dr. Bernhard Ebbinghaus, head of the division for "European Societies and their Integration" at MZES. The survey focused on four key areas: Family, Occupation and Income, Health, and Integration and Participation.

Life quality increasingly impacted by disease

"Compared to other European countries, Germany has lost its top position in many areas and has fallen behind more dynamic societies with regard to quality of life," Prof. Ebbinghaus summarized the results of the VFA Report on Quality of Life. The causes of this trend are complex: The increasing burden of disease jeopardizes the Germans' quality of life. Especially for women, life expectancy is increasing, but the number of symptom-free years does not keep up with this trend. Rising numbers of patients pose additional requirements to the German health care system. Ebbinghaus: "In Germany, considerable efforts must be made to reach or maintain a ranking in the top group of European countries with regard to the population's state of health." Compared to other European countries, the German health care system has significant modernization deficits. Increasing social inequality when it comes to health care services is one of the consequences. "Health is a key factor for quality of life," says Cornelia Yzer, director-general of the VFA. "The results of the report raise doubt regarding the medical services for patients in Germany. Therefore, we can only issue a warning not to further jeopardize the patients' situation based on the planned reforms."

Reduced quality of life based on long-term and mass unemployment

Increasing long-term and mass unemployment is also an indication of a massive negative impact on the quality of life. "Germany does not reach the EU target of sufficient employment levels," Ebbinghaus said. "And exclusion from the workforce usually also has a negative effect on the quality of life."

"The VFA Report has shown that Germany's society faces the task of catching up on various modernization backlogs that stand in the way of a positive development of the quality of life," Ebbinghaus said. "This is a task for all central institutions in our society."

The improvement of the quality of life is a key concern for the German Association of Research-based Pharmaceutical Companies (VFA) and its member companies. Cornelia Yzer: "With their research efforts and innovative pharmaceuticals, the research-based pharmaceutical companies make a vital contribution to improving the quality of life. The VFA Report is our contribution for a sociopolitical discussion on quality of life in Germany."

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