Healthcare delivery mechanisms vary considerably throughout Europe as do procurement and reimbursement processes; however there is a unified regulatory structure under the various directives of the European Union. Commonality also extends to a mix of socialized and privatized healthcare provision with an increasing emphasis on health economics and evidence based medicine.

The EU has a total population of 450 Million, and this is an aging population with an average life expectancy of 19 years for males and 23 years for females at age 60.

EU countries typically have between 200 and 400 physicians per 100,000 population and over 400 hospital beds per 100,000 population.