The development of modern medicine is still slow in comparison with the rate at which the global population is aging and the resulting chronic morbidity, but the health indices in Israel are fairly good in comparison with Western countries, according to a new Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) report published today by the Central Bureau of Statistics.
For example, the rate of hospitalization in Israel for heart failure in 2013 was 233 per 100,000 people over age 15, compared with 380 in Germany, 370 in the US, and an average of 250 in OECD countries.. The 30-day mortality rate in Israel among those aged 45 years or more suffering a severe heart attack is 8%, compared with an OECD average of 9%. Israel is also above average in the extent of mammography tests, inoculation of senior citizens against influenza, and in other aspects. In breast cancer, Israel is slightly above average in its recovery rate, but not in its mortality rate, which is 31% for breast cancer, compared with the OECD average of 25%.
On the other hand, the report shows that the detection rates for cervical cancer and colon cancer in Israel are higher than average, with the mortality rate from cervical cancer being lower than average, while the mortality rate for colon cancer is about the same as the average. The report also shows that per capita national spending in Israel on health in terms of purchasing power is only $2,500, compared with $5,800 in Norway, $4,300 in Canada, and an OECD average of $3,600. Furthermore, private spending on health in Israel accounted for 40% of total national spending on health, compared with an OECD average of only 27%.
According to the report, no country has good indices in all parameters, even when countries have very high national spending on health. All countries have improved over the year, and have consistently achieved lower morbidity and better indices, but have not managed to overtake the rise in the number of people suffering from at least one chronic disease resulting from old age.
The report does not examine the state of medical infrastructure and equipment, in which Israel is consistently at the bottom of the OECD. Israel has more crowding in hospital wards and a severe shortage of hospital beds, MRI devices, etc.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on November 4, 2015
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