Comparing the expenditures of health in the countries which are European union members or candidates: In which part of Europe is Turkey?

Introduction: The parameters concerning expenditures of health can function importantly in order to have opinion about health systems of the country.

Method: The 2005 data of WHO has been used as source.

Results: The health expenditure per capita is $ 2212 in EU-15, $ 663 in EU-12, $ 1886 in EU-27, $ 592 in Turkey, $ 569 in Macedonia, $ 813 in Croatia.
The ratio of the total public expenditures to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is 46,5% in EU-15, 40,1%  in EU-12, 45,6% in EU-27,  29,2% in Turkey,  35,0% in Macedonia, 43,4% in Croatia. The ratio of the total health expenditures (THE) to GDP is 9,6% in EU-15, 6,5%  in EU-12, 8,9% in EU-27,  5,7% in Turkey, 7,8% in Macedonia, 7,4% in Croatia.
The ratio of the total public health expenditures to the THE is 76,8% in  EU-15, 70,9%  in EU-12, 75,5% in EU-27, 71,4% in Turkey, 70,4% in Macedonia, 81,3% in Croatia. The ratio of the household out-of-pocket health expenditures to the THE is 14,9% in EU-15, 25,3%  in EU-12, 17,1% in EU-27, 19,9% in Turkey, 29,6% in Macedonia, 17,5% in Croatia.

Conclusion: I can be suggested for Turkey to transfer more public source for health seeing that especially the ratio of public expenditures and health expenditures to GDP is low.

Key Words: health expenditures, European Union, Turkey.