Italy 16th among OECD European countries for per capita health expenditure (in 2022 equal to 3,255 dollars while in Germany it is close to 7 thousand). In Europe, 15 countries invest in health care more than ours. Gimbe’s analysis in view of the discussion of the 2024 Budget Law
In our country the public health expenditure in 2022 it was equal to 6.8 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), 0.3 percentage points below the OECD average (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) and, with respect to the per capita expenditure, we bring up the rear among the G7 countries, of which we will have the presidency in 2024. This is what the Report of the Gimbe Foundation highlights, prepared in view of the discussion of the Budget Law 2024. Underlines Nino Cartabellotta, president of the Gimbe Foundation: «The fundamental principles of National Health Service (SSN), universality, equality, equity, have been betrayed ; today are quite different
keywords of our SSN: endless waiting lists, emergency room crowding, increase of private spending, inequalities in access to services, inaccessibility to innovations, healthcare migration, renunciation of careThat’s why, according to Gimbe’s analysis, Italy «must reverse course as soon as possible. Otherwise it will be thereGoodbye to the constitutional right to health protection», particularly in the Southern Regions.
Comparison with OECD countries: less 47.6 billion invested
The Report, which is based on Oecd Stat data (updated to July 2023), indicates that the public health expenditure of our country in 2022 stands at 6.8 percent of GDPcompared to one OECD average (and also European) del 7.1 percent. Specifically, they are thirteen European countries which, as a percentage of GDP, invest more than Italy. Germany, for example, invests 10.9 percent of its gross domestic product.
The gap is also evident for the healthcare expenditure per capita, which in Italy is equal to $3,255 and stays below
both of the
OECD average ($3,899) with a difference of $644, and the average of other European countries (4,128) with a difference of $873.
15 European countries invest more than us in healthcare: a gap of 47.6 billion
AND in Europe there are 15 countries that invest more than us in healthcare. «At the current dollar/euro exchange rate – explains Cartabellotta – the gap with the average of the European countries of the OECD area today it amounts to over 808 euros per capita which, taking into account a resident population in Italy (Istat 2023 data) of over 58.8 million inhabitants, translates into the figure of over 47.6 billion euros».
THE
L gap with European countries – continues Gimbe’s analysis – yes progressively expanded since 2010, following cuts and public definancing, up to 590 euros in 2019; then it is further extended during the years of the pandemic when, in the face of a clear increase in healthcare spending in Italy, other European countries have invested more than ours.
Gap widened with the pandemic
Turning to the comparison with the other G7 countries on the trend of public spending 2008-2022, it emerges that in these countries (except the United Kingdom) the financial crisis of 2008 did not in the least affect public spending per capita on health carereports Gimbe’s analysis
: after 2008 the growth trend remained or even increased. In Italy, on the other hand, the trend has substantially flattened out since 2008, leaving our country always in last position. Furthermore, explains Cartabellotta: «Among the G7 countries, Italy has always been last for public spending per capita: but if in 2008 the differences with other countries were modestwith the constant and progressive public definancing of the last 15 years they have now become unbridgeable».
In 2022 while Italy remains last with per capita spending of $3,255, Germany more than doubled it to nearly $7,000. Furthermore, President Gimbe comments: «if, to face the pandemic, everyone
the G7 countries increased public spending per capita from 2019 to 2022, Italy is second to last just above Japan”.
After the COVID-19 emergency, reports the report, the gap with the other European countries of the G7 continues to grow: in Italy, public health expenditure in 2022, compared to 2019, increased by 625 dollarsalmost half of that French (1.197) and 2.5 times less than that German (1,540).
The health of the population affects the growth of the GDP
According to Cartabellotta, “the now unbridgeable gaps are the result of the short-sightedness of the politics of the last 20 years which has cut and/or not invested in health care ignoring – unlike other countries – that the degree of health and well-being of the population affect the growth of the GDP».
But, underlines the president of the Gimbe Foundation, “Public health is a priority in which to invest continuously and not a cost to be cut repeatedly”.Here because we need «signals already visible in the NaDEF 2023 and especially, in the next Budget LawCartabellotta concludes.
September 5, 2023 (change September 5, 2023 | 12:52 am)
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