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Chapter 3 | The impact of the crisis on the health system and health in France
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3. Health system responses to the crisis
3.1 Changes to public funding for the health system
The health budget deficit increased by approximately 2.5 times between 2008 and
2010 (rising from €4.4 billion to €11.9 billion), but was reduced to €8.6 billion
in 2011 through better expenditure control and an increase in revenues. In this
context, an amendment to the 2012 budget was passed to reduce the health
budget deficit to €5.5 billion in 2012 and to €5.1 billion in 2013. In 2010, the
national ceiling on health insurance expenditure was met for the first time since
1997. Accordingly, the total health expenditure growth rate has fallen markedly,
from a 4.8% increase between 2006 and 2007 to a 2.5% increase between
2010 and 2011. At the same time, public expenditure as a share of total health
expenditure has fallen from 77.1% in 2007 to 76.7% in 2011 (OECD, 2013).
Expressed as a share of total government expenditure, health sector funding has
increased from 14% in 2007 to 15% in 2011 (Fig. 3.2).
Fig. 3.2 Percentage of government spending by sector in France, in 2007 and 2011
2007
General public
services
12%
Defence
3%
Public order
and safety
3%
Social
protection
42%
Education
11%
Recreation, culture
and religion
3%
Health
14%
2011
Economic
affairs
6%
Environment
protection
2%
Housing and
community
amenities
4%
Social
protection
43%
General public
services
11%
Defence
3%
Public order
and safety
3%
Economic
affairs
6%
Environment
protection
2%
Health
15%
Housing and
community
amenities
3%
Education
11%
Recreation, culture
and religion
3%
Source: OECD, 2013.