Current healthcare expenditure in Austria has increased moderately in 2022 and amounts to 49.9 billion euros. That is 11.2 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP), Statistics Netherlands calculated in a press release on Wednesday. This means the number is lower than an initial estimate in June. At the time, it was assumed that the amount would exceed 50 billion euros for the first time in 2022. Corona-related expenses have decreased.
In 2021, healthcare expenditure still amounted to 49.2 billion euros and 12.2 percent of GDP. “The share of healthcare expenditure in economic output fell from 12.2 percent in 2021 to 11.2 percent in 2022, as nominal gross domestic product rose even more strongly than healthcare expenditure,” said Tobias Thomas, Managing Director of Statistics Austria.
Average in OECD comparison
In an OECD comparison, Austria ranks eighth in terms of the share of GDP spent on current healthcare expenditure (average: 9.2 percent). In first place are the US (16.6 percent), Germany (12.7 percent) and France (12.1 percent).
Private expenditure – for example from private households, voluntary health insurers or companies – accounted for 11.2 billion euros or 22.4 percent of current healthcare expenditure. (2021: 10.7 billion euros or 21.8 percent). However, a large part consists of government expenditure: federal states, municipalities and social insurers contributed 38.7 billion euros (77.6 percent) to current healthcare expenditure.
Corona expenditure fell
That is an increase of 0.5 percent compared to 2021, which is well below the average increase of 4.8 percent between 2004 and 2021. According to Statistics Austria, the reason for this development is the decreasing additional expenditure due to the coronavirus, which was mainly publicly financed – approximately 1.1 billion euros less was needed for the purchase, implementation and provision of corona tests and for contact tracing. Public healthcare expenditure related to the pandemic has fallen by €2.1 billion to €2.9 billion compared to 2021.
The fact that healthcare expenditure remained at a high level can therefore be attributed to expenditure outside the pandemic. For example, government expenditure on treatment in private practice, inpatient rehabilitation and medication has risen above average.
14.7 billion euros in public funds went to financing hospitals, including outpatient clinics. Due to the number of patients and residents, the most was spent on those in Vienna (4.2 billion euros), the least on those in Burgenland (318 million euros).
Source: Krone
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