Lao PDR - Out-of-pocket expenditure (% of current health expenditure)

Out-of-pocket expenditure (% of current health expenditure) in Lao PDR was 41.83 as of 2019. Its highest value over the past 19 years was 54.76 in 2003, while its lowest value was 26.88 in 2009.

Definition: Share of out-of-pocket payments of total current health expenditures. Out-of-pocket payments are spending on health directly out-of-pocket by households.

Source: World Health Organization Global Health Expenditure database (http://apps.who.int/nha/database).

See also:

Year Value
2000 44.78
2001 43.97
2002 49.67
2003 54.76
2004 47.26
2005 43.72
2006 41.08
2007 34.91
2008 31.38
2009 26.88
2010 35.96
2011 52.60
2012 48.63
2013 48.70
2014 50.88
2015 45.37
2016 46.44
2017 46.24
2018 48.55
2019 41.83

Development Relevance: Strengthening health financing is one objective of Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG target 3.c). The levels and trends of health expenditure data identify key issues such as weaknesses and strengths and areas that need investment, for instance additional health facilities, better health information systems, or better trained human resources. Health financing is also critical for reaching universal health coverage (UHC) defined as all people obtaining the quality health services they need without suffering financial hardship (SDG 3.8). The data on out-of-pocket spending is a key indicator with regard to financial protection and hence of progress towards UHC.

Original Source Notes: The World Health Organization (WHO) has revised health expenditure data using the new international classification for health expenditures in the revised System of Health Accounts (SHA 2011). WHO’s Global Health Expenditure Database in this new version i

Statistical Concept and Methodology: The health expenditure estimates have been prepared by the World Health Organization under the framework of the System of Health Accounts 2011 (SHA 2011). The Health SHA 2011 tracks all health spending in a given country over a defined period of time regardless of the entity or institution that financed and managed that spending. It generates consistent and comprehensive data on health spending in a country, which in turn can contribute to evidence-based policy-making.

Aggregation method: Weighted average

Periodicity: Annual

Classification

Topic: Health Indicators

Sub-Topic: Health systems