Statistics bureau: Total health expenditure up in 2012 in Palestine

The percentage of total health expenditure to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at current prices for Palestine increased from 12.8% in 2011 to 13% in 2012, according to a joint Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) and Ministry of Health press release issued Monday.The preliminary results showed that total expenditure on health at current prices increased during 2011-2012 where the total expenditure reached to $1,261.9 million in 2012 compared to $1,201 million in 2011.The release stated that the total health expenditure per capita reached $311.8 in 2012 compared to $305.8 in 2011.It said the contribution of the household sector to total health expenditure was 43.1% in 2011 and 39.8% in 2012; government contributions (by the Ministries of Finance and Health, etc.) constituted 38.7% in 2012 compared to 35.3% in 2011.The primary results showed that the percentage distribution of total expenditure on health treatment services for secondary health care (curative care services), inpatient health care and outpatient health care totaled 65.8% in 2012 and 64.9% in 2011.The contribution of medical goods provided to outpatients was 16.5% in 2012 and 15.9% in 2011, said the release.The contribution of general hospitals to total expenditure on health was 30.5% in 2011 and 28.4% in 2012.The governmental sector recorded the highest contribution within general hospitals with 55.6% in 2012 compared to 54.2% in 2011.Providers of primary health care (ambulatory health care) recorded 25% during 2012 compared to 24.2% during 2011.