Press Release: Study projects growing pressure on public health spending over and above effects of ageing society

Public spending on health and long-term care in OECD countries will double by 2050, if present trends continue, reaching an average level equivalent to nearly 13% of GDP compared with 6.7% today. Even if governments manage to contain rising costs, spending would still amount to the equivalent of around 10% of GDP by the middle of the century. The projections are from a new OECD report 'Projecting OECD health and long-term care expenditures: what are the main drivers?' that looks at the main factors driving up healthcare spending over the long-term.