Türkiye's health expenditure experienced a significant surge in 2023, increasing by 105% compared to the previous year and reaching a total of 1.24 trillion Turkish lira (TRY).

This dramatic rise was largely driven by government spending, which accounted for 964 billion TRY, reflecting a 108.1% increase. Meanwhile, private sector health expenditure also grew substantially, totaling 279 billion TRY with a 95.3% increase.

The Turkish Statistical Institute revealed that the general government provided 77.5% of the total health expenditure, while the private sector contributed 22.5%. Among the government’s share, the Social Security Institution took the lead with 42.1%, followed by the central government at 34.8%. Households accounted for 17.8% of total health expenditure through out-of-pocket spending, while insurance companies, non-profit organizations, and local governments contributed smaller portions.

Current health expenditure alone reached 1.13 trillion TRY, marking a 104.1% increase from 2022. Investments in health infrastructure and services also saw a sharp rise, totaling 109 billion TRY—a 114.9% increase. Hospitals dominated the expenditure landscape, accounting for 52.5% of total spending, followed by retail sales and medical goods providers at 20.6%, and ambulatory care providers at 10.7%.

On a per capita basis, health spending more than doubled, rising from 7,141 TRY in 2022 to 14,582 TRY in 2023, an increase of 104.2%. When measured in US dollars, per capita spending grew by 44%, climbing from $431 to $621.

The share of health expenditure in the national economy also increased. The ratio of total health expenditure to GDP rose from 4.0% in 2022 to 4.7% in 2023. Similarly, the share of current health expenditure in GDP grew from 3.7% to 4.3%.

Households made a notable contribution to healthcare spending. Their out-of-pocket expenses for treatments, pharmaceuticals, and other medical needs reached 220 billion TRY in 2023, an increase of 97.2% compared to the previous year. These expenditures represented 17.8% of the total health spending.

The figures highlight both the growing investment in Türkiye's healthcare system and the increasing financial burden on households, reflecting the evolving dynamics of healthcare funding in the country. (ILKHA)