Latest Documents

Second and final meeting of the UNSG High-level Commission on Health Employment and Economic Growth, with Angel Gurría as co-vice chair

Second and final meeting of the UNSG High-level Commission on Health Employment and Economic Growth, with Angel Gurría as co-vice chair. The final report will be released on September 20, 2016.

Réunion ministérielle de l’OCDE sur la santé

Une réunion des ministres de la santé et un forum de haut niveau sur le thème de l'usager au premier plan se tiendront au siège de l'OCDE à Paris les 16 et 17 janvier 2017.

Overview of Health Policy in the United Kingdom

Although the United Kingdom excels in terms of access to health services, it is a middling performer relative to OECD peers in the domains of health status, risk factors and quality. Investment is required to improve acute care and primary care services, prevent obesity and harmful use of alcohol, and expand coverage of long-term care.

Overview of Health Policy in Sweden

Sweden has a healthy population and its health system is high-performing in many areas. A combination of relatively generous public funding and reforms focusing on quality measurement, competition and choice has produced good outcomes, especially in the hospital sector.

Overview of Health Policy in Germany

The German health system is characterised by high levels of human and physical resources guaranteeing good access to care with a low direct financial burden for patients. Nevertheless, the changing demographic situation with a rapidly ageing society creating new demand for health services will pose a challenge for Germany’s health system.

Overview of Health Policy in Denmark

Denmark has a strong and high-performing healthcare system. However, challenges remain when it comes to primary care and prevention. Harmful alcohol consumption and rising overweight and obesity rates among adults suggest a need for targeted public health policies in Denmark.

Better Ways to Pay for Health Care

Tackling antimicrobial resistance

At the OECD, we have calculated that about 50% of all the antimicrobials prescribed by healthcare facilities in our member countries do not meet prescription guidelines. In healthcare services such as long-term care facilities and general practices up to 70% and 90% respectively of antibiotics may be prescribed for inappropriate reasons.

Overview of Health Policy in Korea

In the past 30 years Korea has gone from having a limited medical infrastructure, fragmented financing and limited population coverage, to a health care system characterised by universal coverage, one of the highest life expectancies in the world while still having one of the lowest levels of health expenditure among OECD countries.