This third edition of Health at a Glance – OECD Indicators 2005 provides the latest comparable data and trends on different aspects of the performance of health systems in OECD countries. It provides striking evidence of large variations across countries in indicators of health status and health risks, and in the costs, allocation of resources and outputs of health systems. Compared to the previous edition, it contains an expanded set of indicators related to health promotion and disease prevention, reflecting growing policy interest in striking a better balance between spending on prevention and care.

Each indicator in the book is presented in a user-friendly format, consisting of charts illustrating variations across countries and over time, brief commentaries highlighting the key findings conveyed by the data, and a methodological box on the definition of the indicator. Each table and graph has a StatLink at the bottom, enabling users to find the related data in spreadsheet form over the internet. In addition, a statistical annex provides additional information for each indicator, often presenting long time series going as far back as 1960.

This publication takes as its basis OECD Health Data 2005, the most comprehensive database on health and health systems across the 30 OECD member countries. OECD Health Data 2005 is available on line at www.SourceOECD.org or on CD-ROM from the OECD’s online bookshop (www.oecdbookshop.org).

Reader's Guide
Executive Summary
Part I. Health Status
-1. Life Expectancy at Birth
-2. Life Expectancy at Age 65
-3. Mortality, All Causes, and Leading Causes of Death
-4. Cardiovascular Diseases, Mortality
-5. Cancer, Mortality
-6. External Causes of Death
-7. Infant Mortality
-8. Infant Health, Low Birth Weight
-9. Dental Health among Children
Part II. Health Care Resources and Utilisation
-1. Practising Physicians
-2. Practising Nurses
-3. Remuneration of Health Professionals (Physicians and Nurses)
-4. Acute Care Hospital Beds, Availability and Occupancy Rates
-5. Medical Technologies (MRI units, CT Scanners, Mammographs, Radiation Therapy Equipment)
-6. Consultations with Doctors
-7. Childhood Immunisation (DTP, Measles)
-8. Influenza Immunisation among Elderly People
-9. Hospital Discharges
-10. Average Length of Stay in Hospitals
-11. Cardiovascular Procedures
-12. Caesarean Sections
-13. Cataract Surgeries, Ambulatory and Inpatient
Part III. Health Expenditure and Financing
-1. Health Expenditure per Capita
-2. Health Expenditure per Capita, Growth Trends
-3. Health Expenditure in Relation to GDP
-4. Health Expenditure by Function (Inpatient, Long-Term Care, Ambultory, Medical Goods, Collective Services and Other)
-5. Pharmaceutical Expenditure
-6. Sources of Financing for Health Care
Part IV. Non-Medical Determinants of Health
-1. Tobacco Consumption
-2. Alcohol Consumption
-3. Food Consumption
-4. Overweight and Obesity
Part V. Demographic and Economic Context
-1. Total Population and Population Structure
-2. Fertility Rates
-3. Gross Domestic Product and Income Inequality
Bibliography
Annex A. Statistical Annex
Annex B. Definition of Health Care Expenditure and Methodological Notes
Annex C. List of Variables in OECD Health Data 2005
Annex D. Disease and Injury Categories and ICD Codes