3-May-2017
English
Pharmaceuticals have undoubtedly contributed to improvements in life expectancy and quality of life of many patients, but recent trends on increased spending and soaring launch prices of new medicines raise a number of concerns.
11-April-2017
English
The OECD Health Division analyses health systems' performance and studies policy options to address shortcomings in performance. Browse the list of current analytical projects within the Health Division.
11-April-2017
English
7-April-2017
English, PDF, 1,881kb
This report was prepared for the 2nd Global Ministerial Summit on Patient Safety, held in Bonn on 29-30 March 2017. It first estimates the health, financial and economic costs of patient harm - defined as any unnecessary deleterious effects on those receiving health care. The report then examines how patient harm can be minimised effectively and efficiently to make complex healthcare systems as safe and reliable as possible.
7-April-2017
English
Mental disorders represent a considerable disease burden, and have a significant impact on the lives of the OECD population, and account for considerable direct and indirect costs. This report argues that even in those OECD countries with a long history of deinstitutionalisation, there is still a long way to go to make community-based mental health care that achieves good outcomes for people with severe mental illness a reality.
5-April-2017
English
Health workers are crucial for ensuring access to high quality care for the whole population. The OECD advises countries on how to meet future demand for health professionals and how to manage the supply of health workers, by reviewing policies related to education and training, continuous professional development, geographic distribution and immigration.
5-April-2017
English
In March 2016, the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon officially established a High-level Commission on Health Employment and Economic Growth. The Commission is co-chaired by Mr François Hollande, President of France, and Mr Jacob Zuma, President of South Africa, and co-vice-chaired by Dr. Margaret Chan (WHO), Mr. Guy Ryder (ILO) and Mr. Angel Gurría (OECD).
28-March-2017
English
This new OECD series aims to highlight the latest data in selected countries, to explain their health care systems and to provide key information in a clear and concise way. Each country snapshot highlights the most pertinent issues, be it smoking, obesity, surgical interventions, consumption of antibiotics, physicians density, etc., with the help of key statistics and are followed by brief policy recommendations.
28-March-2017
English, PDF, 520kb
New Zealand has a generally high performing health system, which provides universal coverage and publicly funded access to a large set of core health services. Similar to other high-income countries, New Zealand faces the challenges posed by an ageing population, health inequities, as well as the growing burden of non-communicable and chronic diseases.
28-March-2017
English, PDF, 424kb
The Slovak Republic is struggling to attain the same health outcomes as its Western European Union neighbours. With 5.6% government expenditure on health as share of GDP and moderate private health spending, the country’s financial resources for health are on par with neighbouring Central European countries and countries of comparable wealth.