Turkey spends 4.2 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) on health services, the lowest score among members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), according to a study released by the OECD on Thursday, the Euronews Turkish service reported.
According to the study, titled “Health at a Glance 2019,” Turkey’s health spending covered by the public budget accounts for 3.4 percent of GDP while the remaining 0.8 percent represents the part paid for by private health insurers and the patients themselves.
Turkey’s percentages are nearly half the OECD averages of 6.5 percent for government subsidized health spending and 2.3 percent of private coverage.
Turkey also ranked second to last, ahead of only Greece, in the number of beds for elderly patients, providing 8.7 beds per 1,000 people above the age of 65, about one-fifth of the OECD average of 47.2 beds.
In terms of drug use, Turkey ranked close to midpoint in the consumption of drugs recommended for diabetes and had lower scores in the use of drugs for cholesterol and high blood pressure.
It also had a relatively better outlook in projected dementia rates for 2050.