UK and Twenty Comparable Countries GDP-Expenditure-on-Health 1980-2013: The Historic and Continued Low Priority of UK Health-Related Expenditure

It is well-established that for a considerable period the United Kingdom has spent proportionally less of its gross domestic product (GDP) on health-related services than almost any other comparable country. Average European spending on health (as a % of GDP) in the period 1980 to 2013 has been 19%...

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Main Authors: Andrew J.E. Harding, Colin Pritchard
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Kerman University of Medical Sciences 2016-09-01
Series:International Journal of Health Policy and Management
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.ijhpm.com/article_3241_0c5e75fd378ee88d4982add890694d1b.pdf
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author Andrew J.E. Harding
Colin Pritchard
author_facet Andrew J.E. Harding
Colin Pritchard
author_sort Andrew J.E. Harding
collection DOAJ
description It is well-established that for a considerable period the United Kingdom has spent proportionally less of its gross domestic product (GDP) on health-related services than almost any other comparable country. Average European spending on health (as a % of GDP) in the period 1980 to 2013 has been 19% higher than the United Kingdom, indicating that comparable countries give far greater fiscal priority to its health services, irrespective of its actual fiscal value or configuration. While the UK National Health Service (NHS) is a comparatively lean healthcare system, it is often regarded to be at a ‘crisis’ point on account of low levels of funding. Indeed, many state that currently the NHS has a sizeable funding gap, in part due to its recently reduced GDP devoted to health but mainly the challenges around increases in longevity, expectation and new medical costs. The right level of health funding is a political value judgement. As the data in this paper outline, if the UK ‘afforded’ the same proportional level of funding as the mean averageEuropean country, total expenditure would currently increase by one-fifth.
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spelling doaj.art-a18b8a1f56ef4ced95997a2932aa8d9a2022-12-22T03:16:45ZengKerman University of Medical SciencesInternational Journal of Health Policy and Management2322-59392322-59392016-09-015951952310.15171/ijhpm.2016.93UK and Twenty Comparable Countries GDP-Expenditure-on-Health 1980-2013: The Historic and Continued Low Priority of UK Health-Related ExpenditureAndrew J.E. Harding0Colin Pritchard1Faculty of Health & Social Sciences, Bournemouth University, Dorset, UKFaculty of Health & Social Sciences, Bournemouth University, Dorset, UKIt is well-established that for a considerable period the United Kingdom has spent proportionally less of its gross domestic product (GDP) on health-related services than almost any other comparable country. Average European spending on health (as a % of GDP) in the period 1980 to 2013 has been 19% higher than the United Kingdom, indicating that comparable countries give far greater fiscal priority to its health services, irrespective of its actual fiscal value or configuration. While the UK National Health Service (NHS) is a comparatively lean healthcare system, it is often regarded to be at a ‘crisis’ point on account of low levels of funding. Indeed, many state that currently the NHS has a sizeable funding gap, in part due to its recently reduced GDP devoted to health but mainly the challenges around increases in longevity, expectation and new medical costs. The right level of health funding is a political value judgement. As the data in this paper outline, if the UK ‘afforded’ the same proportional level of funding as the mean averageEuropean country, total expenditure would currently increase by one-fifth.http://www.ijhpm.com/article_3241_0c5e75fd378ee88d4982add890694d1b.pdfUK gross domestic product (GDP)Healthcare ExpenditureInternational Comparison
spellingShingle Andrew J.E. Harding
Colin Pritchard
UK and Twenty Comparable Countries GDP-Expenditure-on-Health 1980-2013: The Historic and Continued Low Priority of UK Health-Related Expenditure
International Journal of Health Policy and Management
UK gross domestic product (GDP)
Healthcare Expenditure
International Comparison
title UK and Twenty Comparable Countries GDP-Expenditure-on-Health 1980-2013: The Historic and Continued Low Priority of UK Health-Related Expenditure
title_full UK and Twenty Comparable Countries GDP-Expenditure-on-Health 1980-2013: The Historic and Continued Low Priority of UK Health-Related Expenditure
title_fullStr UK and Twenty Comparable Countries GDP-Expenditure-on-Health 1980-2013: The Historic and Continued Low Priority of UK Health-Related Expenditure
title_full_unstemmed UK and Twenty Comparable Countries GDP-Expenditure-on-Health 1980-2013: The Historic and Continued Low Priority of UK Health-Related Expenditure
title_short UK and Twenty Comparable Countries GDP-Expenditure-on-Health 1980-2013: The Historic and Continued Low Priority of UK Health-Related Expenditure
title_sort uk and twenty comparable countries gdp expenditure on health 1980 2013 the historic and continued low priority of uk health related expenditure
topic UK gross domestic product (GDP)
Healthcare Expenditure
International Comparison
url http://www.ijhpm.com/article_3241_0c5e75fd378ee88d4982add890694d1b.pdf
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