Exploring the thresholds of health expenditure for protection against fi­nancial risk

Overview

Globally, 5.3 trillion dollars were  devoted to health care in 2007. However, resources available ranged widely, from  US$ 7439 in  Luxembourg to US$ 7 in Myanmar.  Global average health expenditure per capita was US$ 800.  Although higher health expenditure does not necessarily  lead  to  better health outcomes, a minimum  level of resources are needed  for a  health system  to fulfil its essential functions adequately.  In 2001,  the  Commission on Macroeconomics and Health concluded that US$ 34  per capita on  health is  the minimum required for providing  basic curative services to reach health related MDG goals. 

This report is part of a series, The World Health Report 2010 Background Papers, which were written to inform the process of developing the key messages of the World Health Report 2010: Health systems financing: The path to universal coverage.