In 2021, Portuguese families spent nearly 6.8 billion euros directly on health, 906 million more than in 2020, the highest amount ever.
Information released on Friday by ‘Público’ indicates that Portugal remains one of the OECD countries in which families pay the most health care costs directly, even though the country has access to a public health service and tends to be free. .
After household bills reached unprecedented levels in 2019, representing 30.6% of total health spending, direct expenditures decreased in 2020 to 27.8% of the total, due to state-supported expenses related to the Covid-19 epidemic, such as purchasing. Masks, disinfectants, tests.
Thus, the figures show that the total health spending amounted to 23.7 million euros in 2021, of which 6.8 million were directly subsidized by Portuguese families and 15.6 million by the state. The Portuguese newspaper explained that this rise is due to “increased expenditures related to the fight against the epidemic” and “the resumption of assistance in areas without the presence of the Covid-19 virus,” according to the National Institute of Statistics.
Thus, it is the Portuguese who incurred the most direct expenditures on health in 2021, within the scope of the OECD countries.
Emily Brontë is a journalist and feature writer specialising in culture, entertainment, literature, and current affairs. She is dedicated to producing clear, accurate reporting that helps readers stay informed about developments in the UK and around the world.
