This database is Canada's most comprehensive source of health expenditure information and is based on a system of classification that is consistent with international standards for the reporting of health expenditure. In 1998, for the first time since 1991, public sector health expenditure grew faster than private sector expenditure. The category of drugs ranks second after hospitals in terms of its share of total health expenditure. In 1997, expenditure on drugs overtook spending on physician services. Expenditure per capita varies among the provinces.
Health expenditure varies considerably among different age and sex groups.
After adjusting for differences in provincial age and sex distributions, Newfoundland, British Columbia and Alberta had the highest per capita provincial government expenditure in 1998, while New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island had the lowest. This ratio is forecast to remain at the same level in 1999 and 2000. GDP is the value of all goods and services produced in a given country. The health care spending to GDP ratio is an indicator of the extent to which a nation s resources are used in health-related activities. There was a pronounced change following the 1990-1992 recession when governments introduced fiscal restraint measures.