Higher Health Care Spending in Countries Always Translate to Better Health?

When it comes to healthcare spending, some people would equate better health to higher healthcare spending. But this is not always the case. We have to look at some of the health indicators in order for us to better understand if higher healthcare spending really produces better health.

Health indicators may be different in some countries. The health indicators may include mortality, causes of death, risk factors and health expenditures, among others. In the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, about 10 leading health indicators have been prioritized for action. These are physical activity, obesity and overweight, tobacco use, substance abuse, responsible substance behavior, mental health, injury and violence, environmental quality, immunization and access to health care.

Health indicators are used to gauge how certain or overall health programs of a country are successful.

Now, back to the topic on whether higher health care spending translates to better health. Recent studies have shown that more health care spending does not actually mean better health. However, proper health care spending or proper allocation of funds and prioritizing on preventive measures may actually translate to better health and even prolong lives.

According to the UC Atlas of Global Inequality, some countries such as Japan, Singapore and Cuba have lesser health care spending than other high health care spending countries like the US and Switzerland. But, their life expectancies are almost equal or even higher than those countries with higher health care spending.

What is life expectancy?

Life expectancy, according to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, is the average life span of an individual. In the case of countries, this is the average life span of people, which is based on statistical reports. In 2009 estimates, Macau has the highest life expectancy at birth with an average of 84.36 years. United States, on the other hand, has an average life expectancy of about 78.11 years and is ranked as number 49 among the top 50 countries with high life expectancy.

Generally, countries with higher health care spending have higher life expectancy rates. However, there are many countries with lower health care spending who have high life expectancy rates, as well.

Low spending on health care does not mean life expectancy can be low either. Efficiency of health care spending, prioritizing and promoting preventive health and making clean drinking water more accessible can improve the life expectancy rates and overall health of countries.

Sources:

Leading Health Indicators: Priorities for Action (n.d.). Retrieved February 1, 2010 from http://www.healthypeople.gov/LHI/Priorities.htm.

World Health Statistics (2009). Retrieved February 1, 2010 from http://www.who.int/whosis/whostat/EN_WHS09_TOCintro.pdf

Health Care Spending: UC Atlas of Global Inequality (n.d.). Retrieved February 1, 2010 from http://ucatlas.ucsc.edu/spend.php

Life Expectancy at Birth (n.d.). Retrieved February 3, 2010 from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2102rank.html

lifeexpectancy (2010). In Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. Retrieved February 3, 2010, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lifeexpectancy