Health at a Glance 2009
OECD Indicators
This edition also contains new chapters on the health workforce and on access to care, an important policy objective in all OECD countries. The chapter on quality of care has been extended to include a set of indicators on the quality of care for chronic conditions.
Each indicator in the book is presented in a user-friendly format, consisting of charts illustrating variations across countries and over time, brief descriptive analyses highlighting the major findings conveyed by the data, and a methodological box on the definition of the indicator and any limitations in data comparability. An annex provides additional information on the demographic and economic context within which health systems operate, as well as a concise description of key characteristics in health system financing and delivery of services in OECD countries.
Introduction
Which areas of the health care system are providing value-for-money and which show opportunities for performance improvement? While ongoing national and international efforts, such as the Systems of Health Accounts, are providing better information on health care spending, information on the value that health care services create is still limited. Quality of care, or the degree to which care is delivered in accordance with established standards and optimal outcomes, is one of the key dimensions of value.