Self-reported health status was good before the pandemic
Losses in life expectancy due to COVID-19 have been limited after substantial gains
Self-reported unmet healthcare needs are around average
Waiting lists are large
Hospital capacity constraints were significant at the onset of the pandemic
Spending on healthcare is high (graph)
Health care is subject to cost pressures
Current health spending has been comparatively volatile
Staffing moratoria mainly affected nurses
Capital spending growth has picked up only recently
Private sources are a relatively limited part of health care financing
Population ageing will increase pressures on the government budget
Potential input efficiency gains in health care are considerable
Take-up of the Medical Card is influenced by the economic cycle
GP Cards and the Drug Payment Scheme are important supports to households
Notwithstanding record high numbers of medical graduates, foreign-trained doctors make up a large share of the medical workforce
The private health insurance market is large
Dual practice largely prevails among specialists employed in the public system
There is room to expand the cadre of specialists
Avoidable hospital admissions are high for some conditions
Estimated use of home care is considerable at older ages, particularly among women
Home care for frail elderly is considerably cheaper than institutional long-term care
The use of generics is underdeveloped
Decision-making power in the health sector is highly centralised
Cancer is the leading cause of mortality
Survival rates have risen across all types of cancer in recent decades
Strong tobacco taxation helped reduce high smoking rates