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.
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Health expenditure in relation to GDP
In 2007, OECD countries devoted 8.9% of their GDP to health spending (Figure 7.2.1). Trends in the health spending to GDP ratio are the result of the combined effect of trends in both GDP and health expenditure. Apart from a few countries (Hungary and the Czech Republic), health spending grew more quickly than GDP over the last ten years (see Figure 7.1.3 under the previous indicator). This has resulted in a higher share of GDP allocated to health (Figure 7.2.3). The share of health expenditure to GDP is likely to increase further, following the recession that started in many countries in 2008 and became widespread in 2009.
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