Private-sector share of health spending hits record level.

The private-sector share of health expenditures hit a record 28.2% in Canada in 1994, according to a recent federal report. Canadians spent $698 per person for private health-related goods and services, a 1-year increase of 3.8%. Ontarians paid the most--$790 per person--while Newfoundlanders paid the least, $538.     

The cost of diabetes mellitus and its impact on health spending in Mexico

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to determine the cost of diabetes mellitus, its impact on health spending in Mexico, and its percentage of the gross domestic product (GDP). METHODS: There was a four-stage approach: identification of the epidemiology of the use of health services; estimate of treatment cost; determination of the diabetic population, and calculation of the percentage of health spending. RESULTS: The average annual cost per diabetic patient was $708 U.S. dollars (USD), the total annual cost of diabetics was $2,618,000 USD, the percentage of health spending was 15.48%, and the percentage of the GDP was 0.79%. CONCLUSIONS: It is necessary to seek strategies that allow for a more efficient use of resources designated for type 2 diabetes treatment.     

Social health insurance and drug spending a mong cancer inpatients in China

A social health insurance(SHI) program has been established in China to ensure that people can obtain health care economically and equitably. Our analysis indicates that in 2005-06, 66.5 percent of Chinese citizens were non-SHI inpatients. We also found that drug spending for SHI inpatients was significantly higher than that for non-SHI inpatients. After adjusting for other variables, we found that the SHI coverage was also associated positively with higher drug costs. We present evidence to show that drug spending differences are attributable at least in part to differences in insurance courage.