Brussels, 28/06/2013 (Agence Europe) - After plummeting significantly in 2010, health spending continued to stagnate throughout OECD countries in 2011, while the economic crisis continued to weigh heavily on European countries, states the latest report by the OECD, published on 26 June. Between 2000 and 2009, health spending increased on average by 5% annually in the member states. This then slowed down to around 0.5% in 2010 and 2011. Preliminary figures in some countries seem to indicate a similar trend for 2012. This drastic decline in spending can be explained first and foremost by the collapse in the growth of government health spending since 2009 - recording close to zero growth in 2010 and 2011 on average.
The situation is particularly dire in the countries most severely affected by the financial crisis. In Europe, total health spending declined in Greece by 11% in 2010 and again in 2011, after an annual increase of over 5% on average between 2000 and 2009. These reductions are essentially due to the severe cuts in public expenditure. Spain, Iceland and Ireland also suffered two consecutive years of negative growth in health spending. Some countries, such as Estonia and the Czech Republic saw severe falls in spending in 2010 followed by a modest rebound in 2011. Other countries, such as Italy and Portugal, may have delayed cuts in 2010 but then reduced public health spending in 2011. In Portugal, public spending dropped by 8% in 2011 after remaining stable between 2009 and 2010. Outside Europe, the growth in health spending also slowed down in 2010 and 2011, mainly in Canada (3% in 2010 and 0.8% in 2011) and the United States (2.5% in 2010 and 1.8% in 2011). Only two OECD member nations, Israel and Japan, have seen health spending gather pace since 2009 compared with the period before. (IL/transl.jl)