Total healthcare spending is expected to rise slightly as a percentage of GDP over the forecast period, to 9.3% in 2019. The ratio has edged down slightly in recent years, to 9.1% in 2013, according to the OECD. This is in line with the EU average, but substantially below levels of 11-12% in France and Germany. Public healthcare spending is around 7% of GDP and about one-third lower than in France and Germany in per head terms.
Upward pressure from demographic factors will be largely countered by efforts to rein in public healthcare spending. The government is focusing on curbing price increases for pharmaceuticals (which account for about one-fifth of total healthcare spending), promoting efficiency among providers and raising public awareness about health risks.
As a result of strong pressure from EU governments and particularly from investors, who remain concerned about Italy's ability to service its large public debt, a technocratic government, led by Mario Monti, accelerated fiscal consolidation plans in 2012 and announced a wide-ranging structural reform programme that sought to constrain healthcare spending and reorganise the provision of healthcare services.

Healthcare report 2

Healthcare spending 2

Healthcare provision 5

Pharma and biotech 6

Disease trends 9

Industry publishing schedule 12

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