Ireland’s health spend sixth highest in EU, but outcomes in middle third

Figures weaken government claims its hands were tied

The Department of Health building

Ireland’s exchequer spend on health is one of highest in the EU, new figures show.

The figures, provided by the Department of Health, show that the government-funded per-capita spend on health was $3,423 in 2013 while the EU 15 average was $3,084.

Ireland’s spend was the sixth highest in the EU after Austria, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden.

The new figures are different to previously reported figures as they solely refer to ...