[CUPE healthcare list] New Report from CIHI on Health Expenditures

[Jennifer Whiteside <jwhiteside@cupe.ca>]

Health costs hit new high

The Peterborough Examiner
Thu Oct 28 2010
Page: B1
Section: News
Byline: LAURA PAYTON, QMI AGENCY
Dateline: OTTAWA

Canadian health-care expenses are expected to hit a new high in 2010, but costs aren't growing as fast as they used to, according to a new report from a national health organization.

Total spending on health care in Canada will hit $191.6 billion, or $5,614 per person, in 2010, the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) says in a report to be released Thursday.

That's a $9.5-billion increase over 2009's total.

But while costs have increased most years since 1975, they're expected to grow more slowly this year than they have the past 13 years.

The growth has slowed despite an aging population, which is expected to increase costs as more people need more care. Canadians 65 and older, for example, make up less than 14% of the population and account for 44% of health-care spending by provincial and territorial governments. But even with more older Canadians, seniors' share of health costs has been constant for about the past decade.

Chris Kuchciak, manager of health expenditures at CIHI, says it shows health-care spending can be controlled.

"It can be influenced by the decisions that we make and so how much we spend on health care is in large part a decision or a choice that policymakers, the public (make). That's a conscious decision that we can make in terms of what's appropriate," he said.

Canada is one of the most expensive countries in the world when it comes to health care. Total spending in 2008 put the country at fifth in the world among comparable nations, at about $4,079 US per person.

The U.S. spent $7,538 US per person, the most in the world, followed by Norway, Switzerland and Luxembourg. The Netherlands, Austria, German and France trailed Canada.

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PER CAPITA HEALTH EXPENDITURE In U.S. dollars, 2008

U.S. $7,538

Norway $5,003

Switzerland $4,627

Luxembourg*$4,210

Canada $4,079

Netherlands $4,063

Austria $3,970

Germany $3,737

France $3,696

Belgium $3,677

Denmark**$3,540

Sweden $3,470

Iceland $3,359

Australia** $3,353

Finland $ 3,008

**2007 data

* 2006 data

 

 

Jennifer Whiteside

Senior Officer/Agente principale

Research, Job Evaluation and Health & Safety Branch/

Service de la recherche, de l’évaluation des emplois et de la santé-sécurité

Canadian Union of Public Employees/SCFP

1375 St. Laurent Blvd., Ottawa, ON K1G 0Z7

(613) 237-1590, x 248