Older person getting vaccine.

In 2022, preventive healthcare expenditure in the EU accounted for 5.5% of the total healthcare expenditure.

This share reflects the impact of preventive care measures activated to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, which were still in place in 2022. As a result, spending on preventive healthcare increased from 2.9% in 2019 and 3.5% in 2020 to 6.1% in 2021.

The highest shares recorded in 2022 were in Germany (7.9% of total health expenditure), Austria (7.4%) and Finland (6.4%). The lowest share was recorded in Malta (1.2%), followed by Poland (1.9%) and Slovakia (2.0%).

Preventive healthcare expenditure as a share of current expenditure on healthcare, 2022, %. Chart. See link to a full dataset below.

Source dataset: hlth_sha11_hc

Expenditure on preventive care in the EU amounted to €202 per inhabitant, a 6% decrease compared with 2021 (€216 per inhabitant). 

Among EU countries, Germany (€458) had the highest preventive care expenditure per inhabitant, followed by Austria (€411) and the Netherlands (€312).

By contrast, Poland (€22), Romania (€24) and Bulgaria (€31) recorded the lowest expenditures.

Current healthcare expenditure on preventive healthcare, 2022, € per inhabitant. Chart. See link to a full dataset below.

Source dataset: hlth_sha11_hc

This article marks World Cancer Day, observed annually on 4 February to raise awareness about cancer and encourage its prevention.

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Methodological note

‘Current healthcare expenditure’ quantifies the economic resources dedicated to health functions, excluding capital investment. Healthcare expenditure is primarily concerned with healthcare goods and services that are consumed by people resident in the country, irrespective of where that consumption takes place (it may take place abroad) or who is paying for it. As such, exports of healthcare goods and services (i.e., services provided to non-residents) are excluded, whereas imports of healthcare goods and services for final use are included.

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