Reference metadata describe statistical concepts and methodologies used for the collection and generation of data. They provide information on data quality and, since they are strongly content-oriented, assist users in interpreting the data. Reference metadata, unlike structural metadata, can be decoupled from the data.
Department H: Health, Social Statistics, Education, Finance and Taxes; Unit H13: Health Related Accounting Systems
1.3. Contact name
Confidential because of GDPR
1.4. Contact person function
Confidential because of GDPR
1.5. Contact mail address
Graurheindorfer Str. 198, D-53117 Bonn
1.6. Contact email address
Confidential because of GDPR
1.7. Contact phone number
Confidential because of GDPR
1.8. Contact fax number
Confidential because of GDPR
2.1. Metadata last certified
22 May 2025
2.2. Metadata last posted
22 May 2025
2.3. Metadata last update
22 May 2025
3.1. Data description
Statistics on healthcare non-expenditure provide information on healthcare human resources, healthcare facilities, and healthcare utilisation.
The people active in the healthcare sector (doctors, dentists, nurses, etc.) and their status (graduates, practising, migration of doctors and nurses, etc.);
The available healthcare technical resources and facilities (hospital beds, beds in residential care facilities, medical technology, etc.);
The health activities or patient contacts undertaken (hospital discharges, surgical procedures, ambulatory care data, etc.).
Annual national and regional data are provided in absolute numbers or as a rate of a relevant population.
Data are based mainly on administrative records (see section 18.1 ‘Source data’ for more information).
3.2. Classification system
For the collection of data on healthcare non- expenditure, the classifications used in the System of Health Accounts (SHA) and its related set of International Classification for the Health Accounts are applied.
For Health Employment, the Directive 2005/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 September 2005 on the recognition of professional qualifications apply.
Definitions of mandatory variables are laid down in Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/2294.
Where possible, the statistics are separated by sex (male/female), age group and NUTS2 region.
National deviations: see Annex at the bottom of the page.
3.3. Coverage - sector
Public health.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
The healthcare non-expenditure statistics describe the public health sector from a non-monetary perspective. The statistics explain the number or rate of different healthcare resources, facilities and utilisations. A wide range of indicators are collected from a multitude of sources and therefore, details pertaining to individual variables are given in the Annex.
Definitions of mandatory variables are laid down in Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/2294.
Joint Questionnaire on Non-Monetary Health Care Statistics, which is carried by Eurostat, OECD and WHO-Europe.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
Federal Data Protection Act (BDSG) in conjunction with General Data Protection Regulation (DSGVO).
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
Most of the data in this data collection is not subject to confidentiality. Various rules of confidentiality apply to the few indicators in which there may be cases of confidentiality: rounding to 3 cases, reporting only values above a certain limit, representation in 1000 (see annex at the bottom of the page).
8.1. Release calendar
Data on Healthcare non-expenditure Statistics/Joint Questionnaire are not part of the national release calendar. Data are published by Eurostat according to the Eurostat release calendar.
8.2. Release calendar access
On the Eurostat’s website is a publicly available release calendar.
8.3. Release policy - user access
The data of the official statistics are made available to all users at the same time in the form of press releases, reference to updates in the online offers, etc.
Microdata are only available for selected indicators of Healthcare non-expenditure Statistics/Joint Questionnaire and due to data protection reasons only for research purposes.
10.5. Dissemination format - other
Delivery of data via the Joint Questionnaire on Non-Monetary Health Care Statistics to the international organizations Eurostat, OECD and WHO.
The data is compiled from various data sources. This is mainly official administrative data. All data are subjected to a plausibility check. Deviations from the given definitions from the manual are documented in the Sources and Methods (see Annex at the bottom of the page).
11.2. Quality management - assessment
In general, we rate the data quality as good.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
The data are used by different user groups. Politics, administration, media, associations, chambers, education, science, private users etc.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
There are no available national data on user satisfaction. Eurostat carries out an annual user satisfaction survey on a central level, see the latest results here.
12.3. Completeness
In principle, all content-related requirements of the relevant laws, regulation and guidelines are fulfilled. If there are deviations, these are described in the sources and methods (see annex at the bottom of the page).
13.1. Accuracy - overall
Most indicators are based on data from official statistics (e.g. hospital statistics, care statistics) and are therefore subject to their quality criteria. The other statistics are usually validated internally by the relevant data holders. In order to identify systematic errors in the basic statistics and to correct them if necessary, the original data is comprehensively checked for completeness and plausibility before delivery. In the event of discrepancies, the data holder will be contacted. Therefore, we rate the data accuracy as generally good.
13.2. Sampling error
Not applicable.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Not applicable.
14.1. Timeliness
Health care staff: t+13 months.
Beds or equipment: t+12 months.
Discharges or procedures: t+11 months.
Others: t+14 months.
Overall t+14 months until delivery of data via the Joint Questionnaire on Non-Monetary Health Care Statistics to the international organizations.
14.2. Punctuality
The data are delivered to the international organizations on schedule.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
The data are comparable within Germany. As a rule, there are no deviations from the international concepts, otherwise this is indicated in the Sources and Methods (see annex at the bottom of the page).
15.2. Comparability - over time
The individual indicators are generally comparable in a time series. If there are breaks in the time series, these are described in the Sources and Methods (see annex at the bottom of the page).
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
There are no significant inconsistencies in the statistics.
15.4. Coherence - internal
Data are consistent.
There are costs for the coordination and processing of the data delivery as well as for the collection of the Health Personnel Accounts, whose data is required for the reporting of the health non-expenditure data. As a rule, available data sources are used and an attempt is made to keep the burden on the respondents as low as possible.
17.1. Data revision - policy
A revision means the revision of the results, for example by considering new data, new statistics and/or improved methods.
the implementation of new concepts, definitions, classifications and the like;
the inclusion of new data sources;
the introduction of new statistical calculation bases;
the application of new calculation methods;
increasing international comparability.
18.1. Source data
Source data for the different variables are given in the Annex at the bottom of the page.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Annual.
18.3. Data collection
The indicators in this data collection are based on many different data sources. Some of the data is freely accessible, others require extensive special evaluations by the data holders and auxiliary calculations. For details see annex at the bottom of the page.
18.4. Data validation
The data is comprehensively checked for completeness and plausibility before delivery. In the event of discrepancies, the data holder will be contacted.
18.5. Data compilation
If there are sporadic data failures in the time series, the missing values are determined using appropriate imputation methods (e.g. updating, calculation of mean values, etc.).
18.6. Adjustment
Not applicable.
For more detailed information on the indicators see annex at the bottom of the page.
Statistics on healthcare non-expenditure provide information on healthcare human resources, healthcare facilities, and healthcare utilisation.
The people active in the healthcare sector (doctors, dentists, nurses, etc.) and their status (graduates, practising, migration of doctors and nurses, etc.);
The available healthcare technical resources and facilities (hospital beds, beds in residential care facilities, medical technology, etc.);
The health activities or patient contacts undertaken (hospital discharges, surgical procedures, ambulatory care data, etc.).
Annual national and regional data are provided in absolute numbers or as a rate of a relevant population.
Data are based mainly on administrative records (see section 18.1 ‘Source data’ for more information).
22 May 2025
The healthcare non-expenditure statistics describe the public health sector from a non-monetary perspective. The statistics explain the number or rate of different healthcare resources, facilities and utilisations. A wide range of indicators are collected from a multitude of sources and therefore, details pertaining to individual variables are given in the Annex.
Definitions of mandatory variables are laid down in Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/2294.
National changes of statistical concepts and national definitions deviating from Regulation (EU) 2022/2294: see Annex at the bottom of the page.
Registered health professionals or health care facility categories.
All health care staff.
All available beds or equipment in hospitals or in nursing and residential care facilities.
All discharges or procedures performed in all hospitals.
Complete national territory.
Calendar year.
Most indicators are based on data from official statistics (e.g. hospital statistics, care statistics) and are therefore subject to their quality criteria. The other statistics are usually validated internally by the relevant data holders. In order to identify systematic errors in the basic statistics and to correct them if necessary, the original data is comprehensively checked for completeness and plausibility before delivery. In the event of discrepancies, the data holder will be contacted. Therefore, we rate the data accuracy as generally good.
Number at the end of the reference (calendar) year.
Number, headcount.
Average number during reference year.
For some variables on health employment, number of full-time equivalent (FTE) persons is used.
For some variables on healthcare activities, percentage (%) of those screened/immunised is used.
If there are sporadic data failures in the time series, the missing values are determined using appropriate imputation methods (e.g. updating, calculation of mean values, etc.).
Source data for the different variables are given in the Annex at the bottom of the page.
Annual
Health care staff: t+13 months.
Beds or equipment: t+12 months.
Discharges or procedures: t+11 months.
Others: t+14 months.
Overall t+14 months until delivery of data via the Joint Questionnaire on Non-Monetary Health Care Statistics to the international organizations.
The data are comparable within Germany. As a rule, there are no deviations from the international concepts, otherwise this is indicated in the Sources and Methods (see annex at the bottom of the page).
The individual indicators are generally comparable in a time series. If there are breaks in the time series, these are described in the Sources and Methods (see annex at the bottom of the page).
