Work

Geospatial Insights into Healthcare Accessibility in Europe: A Scoping Review of GIS Applications

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Background: Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have emerged as a critical tool in healthcare research, facilitating the assessment of healthcare accessibility through spatial analysis and data visualisation. This scoping review synthesises literature published between 2020 and 2024, a period marked by the COVID-19 pandemic and rapid methodological innovation, providing a timely overview of how GIS has been applied to evaluate healthcare access across European countries. Methods: The review underscores the role of GIS methodologies in identifying geographic disparities, optimising resource distribution, and informing policy decisions. Results: Key findings highlight significant urban-rural differences in healthcare access, shaped by factors such as transportation infrastructure, population density, and healthcare facility distribution. Additionally, GIS has proven valuable in examining the link between healthcare accessibility and utilisation, with better access generally correlating with higher service use. Conclusions: Despite its potential, challenges including data availability, methodological variability, and uneven adoption across regions limit its broader implementation. The review emphasises the need for integrating advanced technologies to foster more equitable healthcare access throughout Europe.

Source: Healthcare

DOI: 10.3390/healthcare13222865

Authors: Silviya Nikolova, Teodora Aleksandrova

Institution: Medical University of Varna

Language: English

Topic: Urban Transport and Accessibility

Subfield: Transportation

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,258