This chapter looks at recent trends in health spending, overall and disaggregated by type of health service and provider. There is a particular focus on the impact of COVID‑19 on health spending. The chapter also analyses how health care is financed across Europe and takes a closer look at how much is spent on primary care and pharmaceuticals. In 2020, the COVID‑19 pandemic caused massive disruption to health systems and health spending increased significantly in most countries to address the consequences of this health crisis. Although partly attributable to the widespread deterioration in GDP from the economic fallout, spending on health as a share of GDP grew significantly to reach 10.9% in the EU in 2020, with the share climbing to over 12% in Germany and France. On a per capita basis, health spending increased by more than 5% across EU countries, the highest rate in nearly two decades. Regarding the financing of health care, government and compulsory schemes accounted for around four‑fifths of overall health spending across EU countries in 2020. However, out-of-pocket expenditure – which can impact individuals’ access to care – remains an important source of health financing in several Southern as well as Central and Eastern European countries.
Health at a Glance: Europe 2022
State of Health in the EU Cycle
Health at a Glance: Europe
