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Over 70 billions in health costs
statistikk
2006-06-21T10:00:00.000Z
Health
en
speshelse, Specialist health service, hospital, health enterprise, health region, mental health care, psychiatric institutions, substance abuse care, substance abuse treatment institutions, somatic health services, operating costs, investments, health personnel (for example doctors, nurses, psychologists), specialists, bed days, beds, day treatment, admissions, involuntary admissions, polyclinic consultations, follow-up care, discharges, ambulance assignments, ambulance cars, ambulances, ambulance boats, air ambulancesHealth services , Health
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Specialist health service, 2005

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Over 70 billions in health costs

The total costs of the specialized health care exceeded NOK 70,2 billion in 2005. This amount corresponds to NOK 15,100 per capita, and rose by NOK 800 since 2004.

The total cost of the specialized health care sector increased by NOK 4.3 billions, which is equivalent to a 6.6 per cent rise from 2004. The costs within psychiatric health care for grown ups and for children and adolescents have increased by 9.2 and 8.4 per cent respectively since 2004, while costs related to the general hospitals have increased only by 4.9 per cent The figures for substance abuse treatment show an increase of almost 16 per cent( 1 ). This development is also partially reflected in the figures for activity and capacity.

Specialist health service. 2000-2005. Key figures, accounts
 
 200020012002120032200422005
 
Expenditure, specialist health care, exclusive depreciation. NOK million42 160  47 992  56 503  61 110  65 894  70 231
Expenditure, general hospitals, exclusive depreciation. NOK million33 95438 81343 79647 10048 32450 634
Expenditure, psychiatric health care for adults, exclusive depreciation. NOK million7 0757 8958 3109 4379 63110 602
Expenditure, psychiatric health care for children and adolescents, exclusive depreciation. NOK million1 0591 2401 5791 7051 8512 007
Expenditure, health care and treatment of substance abuse, exclusive depreciation. NOK million.... 121 1221 7742 049
       
Expenditure per inhabitant, specialist health care, exclusive depreciation. NOK--12 50013 40014 30015 100
Expenditure per inhabitant, general hospitals, exclusive depreciation. NOK7 6008 6009 70010 30010 50010 900
Expenditure per inhabitant 18 years and over, psychiatric health care for adults, exclusive depreciation. NOK2 1002 3002 4002 7002 7003 000
Expenditure per inhabitant 0-17 years, psychiatric health care for children and adolescents, exclusive depreciation. NOK1 0001 2001 5001 6001 7001 800
Expenditure per inhabitant, health care and treatment of substance abuse, exclusive depreciation. NOK0000 400 400
 
1 From 2002, gross current expenses incl. ambulances, health care and treatment of substance abusers and administration in the regional enterprices. Previously, these expenses were incl. in the counties' health administrations.
2 The figures for 2003 were corrected 27 June 2005.

Of the total costs, 72 per cent was spent on general hospitals. This share has decreased by more than one percentage-point compared to 2004. Likewise, the share of the psychiatric health care has risen by about half a percentage-point. The share for substance abuse treatment has increased by 0.3 percentage-point since 2004, reaching a total of about two billions NOK in 2005.

Reduction in number of beds within general hospitals

The general hospitals and specialized somatic institutions had a total of about 16 700 beds at the end of 2005; a decrease of more than two percent as compared to 2004. Mainly, the decline is connected to the hospitals and it is common to all health regions. For every 100 beds in this sector, 84 are found in hospitals.

but an increase in activity

The total number of bed-days in general hospitals was approximately constant from 2004 and during 2005. The number of discharges increased by 1.7 per cent; up to 809 907. The development of shortening the average length of overnight stay continued from 2004 to 2005. An average stay lasted for 5.1 days instead of 5.2 days as compared to last year. The total number of day-cases and out-patient consultations given by general hospitals increased as well. General hospitals carried out ten percent more day-cases in 2005 than the year before; the number of out-patient consultations increased by 2.6 per cent to almost 3.5 million.

and an increase in the number of beds for substance abuse treatment

Capacity within this sector has increased by about 300 beds. Many of those are ad-hoc-places (sold freely without contracts with the regional health enterprises); but the figures for the utilization capacity show that these beds were in use for three out of four days during 2005. Beds by contract had a slightly higher utilization rate, 84 percent.

Psychiatric health care: large increase in out-patient consultations

The number of beds in psychiatric health care decreased by 128 from 2004 to 2005. This corresponds to a decline by 2.3 per cent both for the grown-ups and children /adolescents. The number of bed-days in the psychiatric health care was about 1.69 million bed-days, the total figure was 1.5 percent lower than the previous year. On the other hand, the number of out-patient consultations grew by almost 26 per cent. The sector gave more than 1,3 million out-patient consultations during last year. From 2005, repayment could also be given for telephone consultations. The large increase could most likely be explained by the new rules.

About publication level for psychiatric health care

Statistics Norway has reorganized publication of activity statistics within the psychiatric health care. It will thus be possible to find three groups in this new classification: psychiatric hospitals, regional psychiatric institutions and psychiatric homes. This new pattern of publication will give the possibility to follow the development of costs in these groups once the accounting levels are ready. The quality of accounts does not permit for this in 2005.

Specialist health service. 2000-2005. Key figures, activity
 
 200020012002200320042005
 
Beds22 53322 54422 66222 77424 08623 861
Discharges 764 546 801 939 820 660 869 3201 885 605 912 694
Bed-days in 1 0006 8256 9296 9186 9207 2207 286
Out-patient consultations in 1 00024 3474 3863 9934 3784 5684 848
Day-cases in 1 000 470 613 584 6233 648 679
 
1 For institutions within substance abuse treatment the number of discharges is not available
for 2004.
2 Data from Norwegian Patient Register (NPR) is the main source for this information. In
addtion Statistics Norway gathered information on out-patient consultations in private
hospitals for 2002 and 2003, 34 679 and 93 127 consultations, respectively. This information
was not included in the figures for 2004.
3 For institutions within substance abuse treatment the number of day-cases is not available
for 2004.

Continued growth in man-years

The number of man-years in the specialized health care sector was 92,700 in 2005. Compared to 2004, this amount has grown by 1336 man-years, equivalent to an increase of 1.5 per cent. With the exception of auxiliary nursing personnel, the rise is prevalent in all large categories of personnel - but the amount is varying. Whilst the nurses and midwives see an increase in man-years by 0.8 per cent, the corresponding figures for physicians and psychologists were 3.2 and 6.7 per cent respectively. This shows a further development of relatively larger increases within the highest educated personnel groups, which was already seen in 2004.

Specialist health service. 2000-2005. Key figures, personnel
 
 200020012002200320042005
 
Man-years, total80 297   82 929   85 442   87 897   91 364   92 700
Man-years, physicians9 0019 2799 3009 69010 18910 515
Man-years, psychologists1 7581 8112 0022 1342 3882 548
Man-years, nurses and midwives27 47227 93229 01930 11531 11431 387
Man-years, auxiliary nursing personnel8 3968 2918 2258 1427 8217 513
Man-years, other occupational theraphists12 61514 16414 89615 84218 07318 361
Man-years, adminstration and service20 88721 45221 99921 97421 78022 347
 

Contracts with private practitioners are falling

The number of contracts with private practitioners is declining for the first time since 2002. The regional health enterprises had 1074 contracts with practitioners within different specialties, compared to 1096 in 2004. In all, the number of man-years by the practitioners declines only marginally.

Increasing use of ambulance services

From 2004 to 2005 the number of ambulance service tasks rose by 16,705. The total milage covered by ambulance cars and boats was more than 17,3 million miles in 2005. On average, about 35 miles are driven per assignment, while ambulances in Northern Norway had the highest average figures per assignment, of almost 55 miles. The number of assignments for the air ambulance services increased to about 16,300; rising by approximately 1 000 tasks from 2004.

Following the major Norwegian Hospital Reform (2002) the country was divided into five regional health enterprises (RHE). Hospitals and institutions were organised as health enterprises (HE) and organised under the regional health enterprises. In 2002 there were 43 such health enterprises. Due to restructuring of the enterprises in 2003, the number was reduced to 31. In 2005, 29 HE were operative. For more information about the restructuring .

About statistics of substance abuse treatment

Statistics Norway published in 2004 for the first time figures for substance abuse treatment. In 2005 there were several problems related to compatibility of computer systems and software implementation within the field. Therefore, some institutions were not able to report complete answers to the questionnaires. Two institutions have not sent information at all. Figures published for 2005 will consequently be a minimum number; even so the quality has improved from 2004.

See also :
Psychiatry
Ambulance service
Account
Somatic care
Specialists with operating agreements
Specialist health care, drug treatment


(1) Calculations of changes are made with respect to some errors in accounts 2004. See also the text box about these figures in the article about accounts.